R&B star Chris Brown has been ordered to remain in a UK prison as legal proceedings continue over an assault case linked to a 2023 nightclub incident.
A Manchester court reached the decision on Friday, meaning the 36-year-old artist will stay behind bars until at least June 13, pending further hearings.
This development now throws uncertainty over Brown’s planned European tour dates, which include back-to-back sold-out performances in the Netherlands on June 8 and Germany on June 11.
Authorities in the UK confirmed that Brown was arrested in the early hours of Thursday at a Manchester hotel. He was later charged in connection with an incident alleged to have occurred at a London nightclub last year.
Appearing before Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, District Judge Joanne Hirst ruled that he be remanded in custody until a plea and trial preparation hearing, set for June 13 at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Interestingly, the scheduled court appearance coincides with a concert Brown was billed to headline in Germany. The singer is also booked for a string of shows across the UK and Europe in the coming weeks, before heading to the United States for additional performances.
Chris Brown, known for his breakout hit “Kiss Kiss,” has sold millions of records worldwide. However, his personal life has frequently made headlines, most notably for a felony assault conviction in 2009 involving pop star Rihanna. Since then, he has faced several other legal controversies, including allegations of sexual and domestic abuse.
According to UK police, Brown was formally charged with “grievous bodily harm with intent” after an “assault, which reportedly took place at a venue in Hanover Square in London” on February 19, 2023.
As reported by British media outlet The Sun, the alleged victim is music producer Abe Diaw, who claimed he was attacked with a bottle inside Tape nightclub, located in London’s upscale Mayfair district. At the time, Brown was in the country for a tour.
Mature gathered that Brown had flown into Manchester via private jet on Wednesday afternoon and was swiftly arrested at the five-star Lowry Hotel shortly after his arrival.
Though he rose to fame for his smooth vocals and stage charisma, Brown’s reputation has been clouded by a string of legal incidents. Apart from the 2009 Rihanna case, he was involved in a 2012 nightclub brawl in New York involving associates of rapper Drake, during which NBA player Tony Parker suffered an eye injury from a bottle.
In 2014, Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting a fan in Washington, and two years later, he was arrested again after a woman accused him of threatening her with a firearm.
