Chris Brown will not serve time in prison following a 2023 incident at a London nightclub.
During a session at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday, the R&B star was given an eight-month term behind bars, suspended for twelve months, for the assault on music producer Abraham ‘Abe’ Diaw at Tape nightclub in February 2023.
His vocal coach, rapper Omololu Akinlolu, who was also involved in the clash, received a four-month sentence, suspended for 12 months. This arrangement means neither man will be incarcerated unless they commit another offence within the next year.
Brown and Akinlolu, who both admitted to affray in July, were also ordered to contribute $2,000 (£1,500) toward costs.
The court heard that Brown struck Diaw with a glass tequila bottle on four occasions, hitting him twice in the head.
Delivering the ruling, Judge Tony Baumgartner stated, “The repeated use of a glass bottle in that manner, particularly aimed at the head, was plainly dangerous and carried the potential for a more serious injury than what occurred.”
According to BBC News, he told the R&B performer, “Violence of this kind in a crowded nightclub is serious, it creates an obvious risk not only for the person targeted but also for others nearby.”
He added that Brown’s celebrity status does not “entitle you to special treatment,” but highlighted his guilty plea, his compliance with bail conditions, and that his “risk of further offending is low.”
The 37-year-old’s defence attorney, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC, offered an apology to Tape nightclub patrons on Brown’s behalf.
“This is an ugly and unattractive incident,” she told the court. “It is, however, an incident that was very short-lived, lasting a little over 17 seconds but no more than 20.”
“It is something which undoubtedly would have caused distress to those who were present, and for which Mr Brown… offers a profound apology to all those present.”
The entertainer behind Forever was met with cheers from fans as he departed the courthouse and even signed a few autographs.
Following the hearing, Brown shared a post on his Instagram Stories in which he flashed a thumbs-up while riding in the back of a car.
