Chris Brown, the 36-year-old American musician, has been arrested in the United Kingdom.
The R&B star was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police in Manchester during the early hours of Thursday, May 15.
Authorities have confirmed that Brown’s arrest is connected to an alleged incident of grievous bodily harm that occurred at a venue in Hanover Square on February 19, 2023.
“A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 02:00hrs on Thursday, 15 May on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
He has been taken into custody where he remains,” the Metropolitan Police confirmed in a statement.
The statement continued, “The arrest relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on [Feb. 19, 2023]. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.”
British law prohibits naming suspects at the point of arrest to ensure that they receive a fair trial, but multiple reports have identified Brown as the individual involved.
The arrest stems from a legal case dating back to November 2023, when producer Abe Diaw filed a lawsuit against Brown, accusing him of assaulting him at the TAPE nightclub, which is located on Hanover Square.
In the lawsuit, which has been reviewed, Diaw claims that Brown attacked him with a bottle of Don Julio 1942 tequila, delivering what the producer described as “crushing blows” to the head. Diaw alleged that after being struck, Brown continued to “ruthlessly stomp” on him for approximately 30 seconds.
“I was left unconscious with lacerations on my head and torn ligaments in my leg,” Diaw recounted. “The physical damage was bad enough, but the emotional trauma has been severe.”
The alleged incident reportedly left Diaw with permanent injuries and “severe emotional distress.” His legal team argued that the physical and psychological consequences of the assault have significantly impacted his life.
Radar Online previously reported that Brown’s tour promoter attempted to file a motion to strike part of Diaw’s allegations from the lawsuit, but the motion was denied in April 2024.
The news of Brown’s arrest first broke through The Mirror, which reported that the singer was apprehended at The Lowry Hotel shortly after arriving in the UK via private jet.
Sources revealed that the Metropolitan Police, based in London, traveled to Manchester to execute the arrest after being informed of Brown’s presence in the country.
This arrest comes at a time when Chris Brown is preparing for his highly anticipated Breezy Bowl tour, a celebration of his two-decade-long music career.
The tour is scheduled to begin with a sold-out show in Amsterdam on June 8, followed by multiple stops across Europe, including two concerts in Manchester on June 15 and 16.
The Breezy Bowl tour is then expected to make its way to the United States, with the first American show set for Miami on July 30.
However, the ongoing legal issues could cast a shadow over the tour’s launch, raising questions about whether Brown will be able to meet his scheduled performance dates.
As of now, Brown’s representatives have not released an official statement addressing the arrest or the ongoing legal battle with Abe Diaw.
His legal team has also not commented on the recent developments, leaving fans and industry insiders speculating about the potential impact on his tour and career.
While Chris Brown’s legal troubles are not new—he has faced multiple allegations and legal disputes throughout his career—this latest incident has drawn widespread attention due to the severity of the accusations and the timing of the arrest, which coincides with his milestone anniversary tour.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that their investigation is ongoing, and Brown remains in custody.
Further details are expected to emerge as the case develops, with many watching closely to see how the situation unfolds for the Grammy-winning artist.
