Chris Brown Sentenced to Eight Months in Prison, Suspended for 12 Months, for ‘Vicious and Unprovoked’ Attack at U.K. Nightclub

Grammy award winning singer Chris Brown has been sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months – therefore avoiding jail time – in relation to a “vicious and unprovoked” attack at a London nightclub in 2023.

Before sentencing, Judge Tony Baumgartner had warned Brown, “I take account of your employment and long-established career in music. Your fame, commercial success and professional standing do not entitle you to special treatment. The law applies equally to everyone.”

In July, Brown pleaded guilty to a count of affray at London’s Southwark Crown Court for attacking a music producer with a tequila bottle on the head.

His co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, had also pleaded guilty. The U.K.’s Crown Prosecution Service (similar in function to the District Attorney) described Akinlolu, a Florida rapper also known as HoodyBaby, as Brown’s vocal coach. He received a sentence of four months, suspended for 12 months.

In July, Southwark Crown Court heard that the duo attacked the victim, Abraham Diaw, at the Tape London nightclub in February 2023. Brown was accused of twice hitting the victim with a tequila bottle to his head while Akinlolu punched him.

“They continued their assault whilst the victim attempted to flee through the club,” the CPS said in a statement. “The victim was kicked while he was seated defenseless on the floor.”

After the victim went to hospital with injuries to his head and knees a warrant was issued for Brown and Akinlolu’s arrest, although they had left the U.K. by that time. Brown was arrested in May 2025 when he returned to the U.K. as part of his world tour to perform in Manchester.

“This was a vicious and unprovoked attack by Brown and Akinlolu in a crowded nightclub where Brown used a glass bottle as a weapon to strike the victim’s head twice,” Claire Campbell, a senior prosecutor at CPS London South, had said after securing the conviction.

The two men denied charges for assault and grievous bodily harm as well as Brown having an offensive weapon, and these were subsequently dropped.