Chris Brown, the American R&B star, has been charged with grievous bodily harm following an alleged assault at a London nightclub in early 2023, British authorities confirmed Thursday.
The Metropolitan Police said the incident, which reportedly took place on 19 February 2023 in central London, involved a man in his 30s who was seriously injured.
Brown, 36, was arrested at a Manchester hotel in the early hours of Thursday morning, after flying into the city on a private jet the previous day. He is currently in custody and is expected to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
“We have authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Chris Brown with one count of grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861,” said Adele Kelly, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London North.
She added that “criminal proceedings against this defendant are active” and reminded the public that “he has the right to a fair trial”.
The charge—one of the most serious forms of assault in English law—suggests that prosecutors believe there was intent to cause serious injury. If convicted, Brown could face a lengthy prison sentence.
The singer, known for hits like No Guidance and Forever, was in the UK as part of a European tour. He had been scheduled to perform several shows in June and July, including stops in London, Birmingham and Glasgow. It is not yet clear how the charges will affect the tour.
Brown’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment.
This is not the first time the performer has faced legal troubles. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to assaulting pop singer Rihanna, his then-girlfriend, which drew global media attention and temporarily derailed his career. Since then, he has faced other allegations and lawsuits, though none have led to major criminal convictions in recent years.
Reactions to the latest charge have been mixed. Outside a record store in Soho, 24-year-old fan Leanne Murray said, “I’ve followed him since I was a teen. It’s disappointing, but I’ll wait to see what the court says.”
Others were more critical. “He shouldn’t be on stage until this is cleared up,” said Marcus Jennings, a local DJ. “You can’t just keep brushing these things aside.”
As legal proceedings begin, the spotlight is back on Brown, not for his music, but for what happened in a London club more than a year ago.
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