Chris Brown released on £5M bail in London club assault case

American R&B star Chris Brown has been granted bail by a London court after being charged in connection with a violent nightclub altercation in 2023.

The Grammy-winning artist, 36, was not present at the Southwark Crown Court hearing on Wednesday, but the judge ruled that he could be released under strict conditions, including the payment of a £5 million security bond. The singer must pay £4 million upfront, with the remaining £1 million due within a week.

The court emphasized that the security fee serves as a financial guarantee to ensure Brown complies with his bail terms and returns for future court appearances. A breach could lead to the forfeiture of the full amount.

Brown was arrested in Salford last Thursday and had been in custody since then. He faces a charge of grievous bodily harm for allegedly attacking a music producer with a tequila bottle at the Tape nightclub in Mayfair, London.

Prosecutors described the assault as an "unprovoked attack" during the incident, which reportedly occurred last year. The artist has not yet been asked to enter a plea.

Despite the legal cloud, Brown will be allowed to travel for his scheduled world tour, which kicks off in Amsterdam on 8 June. His tour includes major stops in Manchester, London, Cardiff, Birmingham, and Glasgow through June and July.

Judge Tony Baumgartner also imposed several conditions on the singer: he must reside at a specified address known to the court, avoid any contact with the alleged victim, refrain from visiting the nightclub in question, and must not apply for new international travel documents. Additionally, he is required to surrender his passport whenever not actively on tour.

Brown is expected to return to court on 20 June—just days after his Cardiff show and ahead of a performance at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He will appear alongside co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, 38, a fellow American performer known by his stage name HoodyBaby.