Chris Brown pleads guilty after the attack on a nightclub in London

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Musician Chris Brown pleaded guilty to affray after a confrontation at a London nightclub in 2023.

The BBC reported on Friday that Brown, 37, submitted his plea before Southwark Crown Court in a hearing that lasted less than five minutes.

The incident occurred in a nightclub in the upscale Mayfair district of the British capital. Brown was joined by one of the accused, his vocal coach Omololo Akinlolo, who also performs under the name Hoodie Baby.

Both were initially scheduled to face trial for assault and grievous bodily harm, but the charges were later dropped. Brown also faced a charge of possession of an offensive weapon — a tequila bottle, according to reports — although that charge was also dropped.

Akinlolu pleaded guilty to affray. Judge Tony Baumgartner set a sentencing hearing for October 26 later this year.

The BBC said Brown was ordered to pay a £5m security fee as part of his bail conditions at earlier hearings, which also allowed him to go on a world tour – as long as he surrendered his passport on arrival in each country. “Thank you for coming and supporting me,” he told fans in Manchester while on tour last year. “And thank you to prison,” he said, referring to the time he spent in detention. “It was really nice.”

In the United Kingdom, affray is a public order offense where the defendant uses or threatens unlawful violence against another person in a way that would cause “virtual bystanders” to fear for their safety.

According to the Palestinian News Agency, Brown’s fans raised signs of support outside the London court today. “I love you, Chris,” someone shouted as he walked by.

The Grammy Award-winning artist has spent time in prison before — in Los Angeles — for a probation violation. This came after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna.

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