(Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)
Chris Brown arrived in Manchester on a private flight last week, only to end up in handcuffs and behind bars. The news sent his fans into a frenzy as many questioned the status of his ‘Breezy Bowl’ tour. Concern skyrocketed when a judge remanded him into custody until a court hearing on June 13. Less than a week later, a London court reconsidered and allowed him to go free with the pending charge and several conditions. The singer broke his silence a few hours after the update became public news.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with details about Brown’s conditional release from jail and his first statement since. Keep reading for updated info.
According to CNN, Judge Tony Baumgartner granted Chris Brown’s bail request on Wednesday (May 21). He has not yet entered a guilty plea for the charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm. When the judge gave the update, the 36-year-old was reportedly absent from the Southwark Crown Court.
Brown is due back in court on June 20, per The Sun. The outlet also shared photos of Breezy leaving jail in an entourage’s vehicle after posting the $6.7 million bond.
Judge Baumgartner attached a few conditions to the singer’s release, including residing at an address known to the court. Additionally, Chris had to surrender his passport and travel documents to the police. However, when he needs to travel internationally for ‘Breezy Bowl’ or otherwise, his lawyer can collect the passport and give it to him. Upon arrival at his next destination, Brown has to surrender his passport to another lawyer, who will hold it until he travels to another country.
Lastly, Chris Brown is banned from contacting the victim of the London bottle attack or another suspect in the case, Omolulu Akinlolu (keep reading for details of his arrest). Akinlolu and Brown’s next court hearing for plea and trial preparation will be on the same day, June 20. An additional court date for case management is reportedly scheduled for October 24.
Breezy and his team initially remained silent while fans gagged over his remand into custody last week. The previous June 13 court date would’ve been three days into his ‘Breezy Bowl’ tour. With bail granted and the new court date, Chris Brown will seemingly be able to kick off his 20th anniversary tour on June 8 in Amsterdam, as planned.
Brown has not revealed any tour schedule changes but broke his silence hours after his conditional release. On his Instagram Stories, Breezy wrote:
“FROM THE CAGE TO THE STAGE!!! BREEZYBOWL.”
The singer is also scheduled to perform in the city where he was arrested, Manchester, on June 15. His ‘Breezy Bowl’ guests, including Jhene Aiko, Summer Walker, and Bryson Tiller, did not speak out about his arrest in the days after it happened.
As previously reported, London Metropolitan Police learned of Chris Brown’s presence in the U.K. last week and traveled to Manchester to detain him. Officials formally charged him with inflicting grievous bodily harm on producer Abe Diaw.
Brown was on tour in the U.K. on February 19, 2023, when he allegedly struck Diaw several times with a bottle at Tape in London, prosecutor Nicholls said in court Friday. Breezy then allegedly chased Diaw and punched and kicked him. The producer has since filed a civil $16 million lawsuit against Chris, per TMZ.
The singer’s arrest happened at around 2 a.m. local time on Thursday, hours after he had landed in the city. It was the first time he had returned to Britain since the alleged attack. On May 16, he appeared in the Manchester Magistrates’ Court, where the judge ruled his charge was “too serious” and escalated the case to London’s Southwark Crown Court. Prosecutor Hannah Nicholls argued that Brown and others were captured on CCTV footage attacking a man inside a packed nightclub called Tape in 2023.
His lawyer, Grace Forbes, reassured the court that Brown was not a flight risk. But he still received a hard NO to bail during that first court hearing. He reportedly remained expressionless during the hearing while wearing Black Nike tracksuit pants and a black tee. AP reports that Chris only spoke to confirm his name and birthdate and give his Lowry Hotel addressthe same location of his arrest in Manchester.
Chris Brown isn’t the only person charged in the 2023 London attack. Omololu Akinlolu is also a suspect in the case. Akinlolu was due to appear in Manchester Magistrates Court for the same charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The 38-year-old rapper from Dallas, Texas, performs under the name “Hoody Baby.” He also goes by “Fat Leopard” and “Super Hood.” He has previously collaborated with Chris Brown and Lil Wayne.
At this time, police haven’t released details on what role Akinlolu played in the alleged assault, but said he was charged in connection with the same incident as Brown.
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