Omotayo Adigun
Award-winning R&B artist Chris Brown was arrested in the early hours of Thursday, May 16, 2025, outside the Lowry Hotel in Manchester, England.
The arrest is in connection with a serious assault allegation stemming from an incident that took place in February 2023 at the upscale Tape nightclub in Mayfair, London.
According to a statement from the Metropolitan Police, the 36-year-old singer was taken into custody on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. Authorities confirmed that detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit are leading the investigation, which centers around a complaint filed by music producer Mr. Fabien Diaw.
Diaw alleges that the altercation occurred around 3 a.m. on February 19, 2023, when Brown, unprovoked, struck him multiple times over the head with a glass bottle before continuing the assault with punches and kicks after Diaw fell to the ground. The producer said the attack left him with serious injuries, including a collapsed knee, which required hospitalization and the use of crutches during recovery.
The alleged assault reportedly happened while Brown was in the UK as part of his international tour promoting his album 11:11, which grossed more than $82 million globally.
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In addition to the ongoing police investigation, Diaw has filed a civil lawsuit against Brown, seeking $16 million (£12 million) in damages for the physical, emotional, and financial toll resulting from the alleged attack.
The arrest could potentially jeopardize Brown’s upcoming UK tour dates. The Grammy winner was scheduled to perform at major venues including Co-Op Live in Manchester, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The “Breezy Bowl XX Tour” marks Brown’s 20th anniversary in the music industry and includes support acts like Summer Walker and Bryson Tiller across North America and Europe.
As of now, Brown remains in custody as the investigation unfolds, and it is unclear how the legal proceedings will affect the remainder of his tour.