American R&B singer Chris Brown was released on bail Wednesday in a UK court after being charged in connection with an alleged nightclub assault in London last year.
A judge at Southwark Crown Court ordered Brown to post a £5 million guarantee as part of his conditional release, allowing the Grammy-winning artist to proceed with his international tour.
Under the conditions of his bail, Judge Tony Baumgartner ruled that Brown, 36, “can continue his scheduled international tour which is due to start on June 8 in Amsterdam.” However, the judge made it clear that if Brown does not return to the UK for upcoming concerts beginning June 15, the substantial £5 million bail will be forfeited.
The charges stem from an incident on February 19, 2023, when Brown was touring in the UK.
According to authorities, he and a co-defendant allegedly assaulted a man, Abraham Diah, at a nightclub in Hanover Square, central London. The victim was allegedly “struck several times with a bottle before being pursued and punched and kicked.”
Brown was not present for Wednesday’s hearing. He was detained on May 13 at a luxury hotel in Manchester, having arrived in the UK by private jet. The arrest came after an investigation into the reported assault.
The artist, whose full name is Christopher Maurice Brown, was formally charged last week with “grievous bodily harm with intent.” His co-defendant, 38-year-old Omololu Akinlolu, also a U.S. national, faces the same charge.
As part of his bail terms, Brown must reside at an address known to the court and is “not permitted to visit the nightclub where the alleged assault took place or contact the alleged victim Abraham Diah.”
Additionally, the judge stipulated that Brown must “surrender his passport if he is not travelling.”
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Both Brown and Akinlolu are scheduled to appear again at Southwark Crown Court on June 20.
Brown’s legal troubles are not new. He first rose to fame in the mid-2000s with hits like “Kiss Kiss,” earning praise for his vocal range and dance ability. However, his career has been repeatedly overshadowed by a history of violence and legal issues.
The singer was convicted in 2009 of felony assault for a violent incident involving his then-girlfriend, pop star Rihanna, which occurred on the eve of the Grammy Awards. The high-profile case tarnished Brown’s public image and sparked widespread media scrutiny. He was sentenced to five years of probation, community labor, and domestic violence counseling.
Despite the controversies, Brown has maintained a significant fanbase and has continued to release music and perform globally. His 2025 tour is set to include dates in France, other parts of Europe, and the United States, according to his management.