American R&B singer Chris Brown, the former boyfriend of superstar Rihanna, was arrested Thursday in the UK on suspicion of a serious 2023 assault at a London nightclub, reports said.
Police detained Brown, 36, in the early hours of Thursday at a hotel in the northwestern city of Manchester
London’s Metropolitan Police said a 36-year-old man was in custody on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, without naming him.
Officers arrested the Grammy winner at Manchester’s five-star Lowry Hotel for having allegedly attacked music producer Abe Diaw with a bottle at Tape nightclub in London’s exclusive Mayfair district in February 2023.
The star reportedly arrived at Manchester Airport on Wednesday afternoon aboard a private jet.
He is scheduled to perform several shows across the UK next month.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told AFP:
“A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 2:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Thursday, May 15, on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. He remains in police custody.”
Brown rose to stardom at a young age, gaining recognition for his soulful R&B vocals and later branching into rap. However, his career has been overshadowed by multiple controversies, including serious allegations of domestic violence.
In 2009, he was convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend, pop star Rihanna, on the eve of the Grammy Awards — an incident that led to her withdrawal from the event and sparked widespread backlash.
