- Thursday, May 15, 2025
R&B singer Chris Brown was arrested at a Manchester hotel in connection with an alleged 2023 bottle attack at a London nightclub, throwing his upcoming UK tour dates into uncertainty amid an ongoing police investigation.
By: Vibhuti Pathak
R&B superstar Chris Brown was arrested in the early hours of Thursday (15), at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester in connection with an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old American singer, known for hits like Loyal and Under the Influence, is accused of assaulting music producer Abe Diaw at Tape nightclub in Hanover Square, Mayfair.
Metropolitan Police officers apprehended Brown shortly after 2am, just hours after the singer landed in the UK on a private jet. He was taken into custody and remains at a local police station for questioning. A spokesperson for the Met confirmed, “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. The arrest relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on 19 February 2023.”
The alleged victim, Mr Diaw, claims the attack was unprovoked. He alleges that Brown struck him over the head with a bottle before punching and kicking him repeatedly as he lay on the ground. “He hit me over the head two or three times. My knee collapsed as well,” Diaw told The Sun on Sunday. He was treated in hospital and needed crutches upon release. A $16 million (£12 million) civil lawsuit has since been filed against the two-time Grammy winner.
The arrest comes as Brown prepares for his highly anticipated Breezy Bowl XX Tour, celebrating his 20-year music career. He had planned to kick off his UK performances on June 15 in Manchester, with further shows in Cardiff, London, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Dublin. The tour was set to feature fellow R&B stars Summer Walker in the U.S. and Bryson Tiller in Europe and the UK.
However, the police investigation has now thrown the tour into jeopardy. Fans who eagerly awaited his return to the UK are uncertain whether the shows will go ahead. Brown’s arrest also casts a shadow over his recent commercial success. In 2024, he earned over $82 million from his 11:11 tour, selling more than 446,000 tickets globally.
The singer had taken to Instagram after announcing his 2025 tour, expressing excitement: “Celebrating 20 years of CB. So excited to be able to share this moment with the world and my amazing fans. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE ALL YALLS BEAUTIFUL FACES.”
Brown, who has had previous legal issues and is no stranger to controversy, is now once again at the centre of serious allegations. As police continue their inquiries, the future of his UK performances—and potentially his broader tour—remains unclear.
