Chris Brown Arraigned In Manchester Magistrates' Court For One Count Charge

Chris Brownwas formally arraigned for allegedly assaulting a music producer with a tequila bottle after his arrest in Manchester.

The R&B singer was taken into custody in the early hours of Thursday by Met Police detectives at The Lowry Hotel, hours before his appearance at the Manchester Magistrates Court. 

Chris Brown's U.K. arrest stems from a 2023 altercation involving producer Abe Diaw that reportedly ended with Diaw seriously injured.

Brown appeared in a Manchester courtroom on Friday morning after being officially charged with grievous bodily harm stemming from a 2023 incident. 

Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Adele Kelly confirmed the charge and urged the public to avoid sharing anything online that might interfere with the legal process. She reminded everyone that proceedings "are active and that he has the right to a fair trial."

The Metropolitan Police Service stated Brown was due at Manchester Magistrates' Court at 10 a.m. for the formal hearing.

TMZ reported that despite the serious charge, Brown's two upcoming shows in Manchester next month, part of his Breezy Bowl XX Tour, had not been canceled and remained on the schedule. 

The 36-year-old was taken into custody around 2 a.m. on Thursday in connection with the violent altercation that happened in February 2023. The Blast reported that the Met Police confirmed Brown's arrest in an official statement, stating, 

"A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 02:00hrs on Thursday, May 15, on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. He has been taken into custody, where he remains."

They added that the investigation is "being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit."

Brown is facing a $16 million lawsuit after music producer Abe Diaw accused him of a violent, late-night attack at a London nightclub.

The incident reportedly happened around 3 a.m. inside Tape nightclub, where Diaw said Brown flew into an unprovoked rage and smashed a bottle over his head before beating him on the floor. Diaw claimed he was hit "two or three times" and that his knee gave out during the attack.

After the alleged assault, the producer was rushed to the hospital and later needed crutches to walk due to the extent of his injuries. Diaw has filed a civil lawsuit against the singer, seeking $16 million(£12 million) in damages for the physical and financial impact of the alleged altercation.

Before facing his current assault charge in the U.K., Brown had already made headlines for a string of high-profile legal run-ins. His most infamous case dates back to 2009, when he physically assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna, leaving the actress with visible injuries. 

The fallout was immediate and severe. Brown was charged with felony assault and criminal threats, eventually taking a plea deal that included community service, probation, and mandatory domestic violence counseling.

Two years later, he raised eyebrows again during a tense interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America. After being questioned about the 2009 incident, Brown reportedly lost his temper backstage, allegedly smashing a window with a chair and storming out shirtless.

In another chapter of his legal issues, the dancer took aim at Warner Bros. last month, filing a massive $500 million lawsuit over their documentary "Chris Brown: A History of Violence," which he claimed tarnished his name.

Brown accused the film's producers of defamation, arguing the program unfairly damaged his reputation by focusing on past misconduct.

But Warner Bros. pushed back immediately, defending the documentary as a factual and constitutionally protected piece of journalism. They cited Brown's 2009 felony assault conviction involving Rihanna and pointed to court records and counseling mandates as public evidence of his actions.

Producers also emphasized that the content was based on widely reported incidents and media coverage, claiming the lawsuit attacked their right to free speech under the First Amendment.

Singer Chris Brown may be fighting a serious charge in Manchester, but the fact that his tour is still on suggests he is not backing down just yet.