U.S. rapper Chris Brown was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning in connection with an alleged violent assault at a London nightclub last year. The 36-year-old was taken into custody by Metropolitan Police detectives shortly after 2 a.m. at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, where he had checked in following his arrival at Manchester Airport via private jet on Wednesday. Authorities acted swiftly after learning of Brown’s presence in the country.
Why was Chris Brown arrested?
Brown was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous body harm in connection with an incident that occurred on February 19, 2023, at the upscale Tape nightclub in Mayfair, Central London. The alleged victim, music producer Abe Diaw, claims that Brown attacked him during a Dirty Martini-themed club night, striking him over the head with a bottle and continuing to punch and kick him while he was on the ground. “He hit me over the head two or three times. My knee collapsed as well,” Diaw said at the time. He was hospitalised and later discharged on crutches.
The Metropolitan Police 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. He has been taken into custody where he remains. The arrest relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on 19 February 2023. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.” Diaw has also filed a civil lawsuit against Brown, seeking $16 million (£12 million) in damages for injuries and financial losses resulting from the alleged attack. Brown was in the UK as part of his Breezy Bowl XX Tour, a global concert series celebrating two decades in the music industry. The tour includes major dates at Manchester’s Co-Op Live, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, and London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with upcoming shows in Birmingham, Glasgow, and Dublin. The legal proceedings may now impact the remainder of the tour.
In a March announcement, Brown expressed excitement for the milestone tour on Instagram: “CELEBRATING 20 years of CB. So excited to be able to share this moment with the world and my amazing fans… I’MMA TAKE Y’ALL THROUGH THESE ERAS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY GIVE Y’ALL MY HEART AND SOUL.” His 2024 tour, promoting his album 11:11, grossed over $82 million from 446,000 tickets sold.
Who is Chris Brown?
Chris Brown is a Grammy-winning American singer, rapper, songwriter, dancer, and actor who rose to fame with his 2005 self-titled debut album. Known for his dynamic performances and influence on modern R&B, Brown has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and earned more than 125 awards. With over 40 billion digital streams and 14.4 billion YouTube views, he holds the record for the most VEVO videos by a male artist to surpass 100 million views, earning him Diamond status on the platform. Brown is often compared to Michael Jackson for his stage presence and has mingled with celebrities like Tommy Fury and Conor McGregor. Despite commercial success, his career has been marked by repeated legal troubles and public controversies — a pattern many online have pointed to in light of his recent arrest.
“Him and Tory can share a cell now”
The internet was quick to react to Brown’s arrest. A user said, “Yeah, he is the evil.” Another claimed, ” He went from “free Tory” to getting locked Up in less than 24 hours.” A user added, “Right after he posted “Free Tory?” This is weird not going to lie.” “Him and Tory can share a cell now,” noted another. Echoing the sentiment, a user said, “Didn’t he just say free Tory and this interesting… damn the evil busy.” “Hours after posting Free Tory.. it’s hard not to bat an eye,” added another.