Singer Chris Brown has been taken into custody in the UK following his appearance at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The American artist is facing a serious charge related to an alleged violent incident that occurred at a London nightclub in 2023.
Brown, 36, is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to a man named Abraham Diaw during an altercation in a Mayfair club in February last year. He was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers in the early hours of Thursday at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester, ahead of his scheduled UK tour.
During the brief court session, District Judge Joanne Hirst ruled that the severity of the allegation meant the case could not be handled by the magistrates’ court. It has now been referred to Southwark Crown Court in London, where Brown will attend a plea and trial preparation hearing on June 13.
An application for bail made by his legal team was denied, meaning the Grammy-winning singer will remain in custody until his next court date. The judge did not provide further details about the reasons behind the decision to refuse bail.
Brown, who rose to fame with hits like Run It! and Go Crazy, has had a history of legal troubles. His most infamous case involved a 2009 assault on singer Rihanna, for which he received probation and community service.
This latest charge comes as Brown was preparing to begin his UK tour, with concerts planned in major cities including Manchester and Cardiff. The arrest and ongoing legal process could now impact those scheduled performances, though no official changes to the tour have been announced.
UK authorities are treating the case as a serious violent offense, and the Crown Court proceedings next month will determine how the case moves forward. Brown’s representatives have yet to release a public statement regarding the charge or the potential impact on his tour.