Chris Brown pleads not guilty to GBH charge
R&B singer Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm in an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub.
The American musician, 36, is accused of attempting to unlawfully and maliciously cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Abraham Diaw at the Tape venue in Hanover Square, Mayfair, on February 19 2023.
His co-defendant, US national Omololu Akinlolu, denied the same charge in a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Friday morning.
Brown was able to continue his international tour after he was freed on conditional bail last month.
The singer had to pay a £5 million security fee to the court as part of the bail agreement, which is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court and may be forfeited if they breach bail conditions.
Manchester Magistrates' Court heard last month that Mr Diaw was standing at the bar of the nightclub when he was struck several times with a bottle, and was then pursued to a separate area of the venue where he was punched and kicked repeatedly.
Brown was arrested at Manchester's Lowry Hotel at 2am on 15 May this year by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.
He is said to have flown into Manchester Airport on a private jet in preparation for the UK tour dates.
He was released from HMP Forest Bank in Salford, Greater Manchester, on 21 May.
Shortly after being released from prison, the musician posted an Instagram story referencing his upcoming tour.
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Power play Speaking in 2023, Amelia Kelley, a trauma-informed therapist, told Business Insider that criticism surrounding the Taylor-Johnsons was blatant misogyny. "When we see an older woman with a younger man, it underscores that the woman isn't as young as we think they should be,' she said. 'That could be uncomfortable for someone to see.' Yet Elizabeth Jeglic, a professor of psychology at John Jay College in New York , argued against the gendered critique, suggesting it was Sam who could have abused her position of power . "The person who is older tends to be a person who has more power or more experience,' she said. 'They often will select individuals who are younger and more inexperienced because they're more vulnerable. And that creates an unequal power dynamic." 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It's safe to say they'll never stop courting controversy - as every time they step out together, the public are reminded of how it all began. But over a decade later, the Taylor-Johnsons continue to put two fingers up to their doubters. 16 They've been inseparable since day one - despite the trolling Credit: Instagram/@aarontaylorjohnson
