Chris Brown gets 8-month suspended sentence for London nightclub attack

Chris Brown avoided prison time for his 2023 attack with a tequila bottle in a London nightclub, receiving an 8-month suspended sentence. He and Florida rapper Hoody Baby, whose legal name is Omololu Akinlolu, were charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to music producer Abe Diaw. Brown later pleaded guilty to one count of affray, while Akinlolu was sentenced to four months, both suspended for 12 months.

The attack was described as ‘vicious and unprovoked’ by a lawsuit from Diaw, who claimed that Brown ‘beating’ him unconscious with ‘crushing blows’ from the Don Julio bottle while Akinlolu punched him. Diaw also claimed that Brown ‘continued to ruthlessly stomp’ him for another ‘30 seconds,’ leaving him with ‘permanent damage.’ The two men reportedly left the country shortly after the altercation.

Judge Tony Baumgartner issued a warning that the court treated Brown like anyone else under the law before the sentencing. He suspended Brown’s eight-month sentence and Akinlolu’s four-month sentence for 12 months, meaning that both artists will remain free as long as they do not commit another crime for the next year.

Senior prosecutor Claire Campbell of the U.K. Crown Prosecution Service reiterated the serious nature of the incident, calling it a ‘vicious and unprovoked’ attack by Brown and Akinlolu in a crowded nightclub where Brown used a glass bottle as a weapon to strike the victim’s head twice.

Following the cancellation of multiple R&B tour dates with Usher, Brown will be able to continue performing in the U.S. with the remaining stops as scheduled.