American R&B artist Chris Brown was taken into custody in the United Kingdom on Thursday in connection with an alleged assault that occurred at a London nightclub in early 2023.
According to reports from The Sun and The Daily Telegraph, the 36-year-old singer was arrested in the early hours at a luxury hotel in Manchester after arriving in the country via private jet on Wednesday afternoon.
Authorities from London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man matching Brown’s age had been apprehended on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, although they did not release his identity. The arrest reportedly stems from an incident in February 2023 at the upscale Tape nightclub in Mayfair, where music producer Abe Diaw was allegedly assaulted with a bottle.
The arrest took place at the Lowry Hotel, a five-star establishment in Manchester, around 2:00 a.m. local time, according to a statement from police shared with AFP. The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.
Brown, known for his early success in the R&B and hip-hop scenes, has long been a controversial figure due to past legal troubles. His public image suffered significantly following his 2009 conviction for assaulting then-girlfriend and fellow artist Rihanna, a case that made international headlines.
The Grammy-winning performer is scheduled to perform several shows across the UK in the coming weeks. It remains unclear how the arrest might affect those tour plans.
