American R&B artist Chris Brown was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester in connection with an alleged assault on a music producer in London two years ago.
According to a statement from the Metropolitan Police shared via The Independent, the 36-year-old singer was taken into custody at approximately 2 a.m. on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. The arrest stems from an incident that reportedly occurred at a venue in Hanover Square, central London, on February 19, 2023.
“A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 2am on Thursday, May 15 on suspicion of grievous bodily harm,” the Met spokesperson said. “The arrest relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on February 19, 2023. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.”
Brown was in Manchester ahead of his upcoming European tour and had arrived in the city just hours earlier on a private jet. The arrest casts uncertainty over the immediate future of his tour plans, though official statements regarding postponements or cancellations have yet to be made.
The alleged victim, music producer Abraham Diaw, has also filed a civil lawsuit against Brown in the U.S., reportedly seeking $16 million in damages for the injuries and emotional distress he claims resulted from the incident.
Brown is currently slated to launch his ‘Breezy Bowl XX’ tour on June 8 in the Netherlands, with performances scheduled across Germany, the UK, Ireland, France, and Portugal. The UK leg includes two high-profile shows at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 21 and 22, and four performances at Co-op Live in Manchester on June 15, 16, 24, and July 3.
When announcing the tour in March, Brown shared an emotional message to fans:
“So excited to be able to share this moment with the world and my amazing fans. I can’t wait to see all y’all’s beautiful faces. I’mma take y’all through these eras, but most importantly give y’all my heart and soul.”
The tour is also intended to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Brown’s breakout debut single “Run It!”, released on June 30, 2005. In the lead-up to the concerts, Brown made headlines with a social media post advising fans not to wear red bandanas to his shows, hinting at potential safety concerns.
“I see a lot of the fans collectively telling Team Breezy to wear red bandannas to the concert. I would highly advise y’all to NOT do that! 🤣!” he wrote, instead suggesting brown bandanas to promote “positivity.”
Brown has faced numerous legal issues throughout his career, including his high-profile 2009 assault conviction involving singer Rihanna. Despite this, he remains a chart-topping artist with a dedicated fan base.
As of this writing, Chris Brown remains in custody while police continue their investigation. Neither his management team nor legal representatives have publicly commented on the arrest. Further updates are expected in the coming days.
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