LONDON — Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown has been released on £5 million ($6.7 million) bail after a London judge cleared him to proceed with his European tour despite facing serious assault charges linked to a violent nightclub attack in 2023.
Judge Tony Baumgartner of Southwark Crown Court granted the 36-year-old American performer conditional release on Wednesday, ordering Brown to post the multi-million-dollar bail as a guarantee of his appearance at upcoming court hearings. Brown had been held in custody in Salford, near Manchester, following his arrest at a hotel last week.
The charges stem from an alleged unprovoked attack on music producer Abe Diaw during a night out at the upscale Tape nightclub in London’s Mayfair district in February 2023. Prosecutors claim Brown struck Diaw multiple times with a bottle before punching and kicking him in front of a crowded venue. The assault was reportedly captured on surveillance footage.
Brown was originally ordered into custody by a district judge in Manchester after being charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, casting doubt on his upcoming tour plans. His next scheduled court appearance was set for June 13, but the new bail terms mean he can now launch his tour as planned.
The singer, who rose to fame in 2005 with hits like “Run It” and “Kiss Kiss,” was not present for Wednesday’s hearing. He was released from jail in the late afternoon and is expected to continue preparations for the June 8 kickoff of his European tour in Amsterdam, followed by North American dates starting in July.
Omololu Akinlolu, 38, an American musician who performs under the name “Hoody Baby” and is a known associate of Brown, has also been charged in the incident. Like Brown, Akinlolu has yet to enter a plea, and both men have been ordered to appear in court again on June 20.
Brown, who won his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2011 for “F.A.M.E.,” secured another win in the same category earlier this year for “11:11 (Deluxe).” Despite a career punctuated by chart-topping success, Brown has faced a series of high-profile legal troubles, including his notorious 2009 conviction for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna.
The latest case threatens to reignite scrutiny over Brown’s repeated brushes with the law, even as his global fanbase and commercial success remain intact.
