Video of Chris Brown attacking a music producer with a tequila bottle at a London nightclub is going viral after the singer was sentenced in the case.
London’s Metropolitan Police released footage of the 2023 attack on Monday, Oct. 26. A short time later, The Independent published the grainy video, which was said to show Brown swinging a bottle at his former friend Abraham “Abe” Diaw on a crowded dance floor.
The court was shown footage of the confrontation at TAPE nightclub, according to reporting by the BBC. Prosecutors said the video showed Brown striking Diaw four times with the bottle, including twice in the head.
Brown’s vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, joined the attack by grabbing Diaw as the confrontation continued. The fight spilled out into a hallway and Diaw was taken to a hospital with head and knee injuries.
Inside court on Monday, 37-year-old Brown was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months in connection with the attack.
Akinlolu, 40, received a four-month sentence, which was also suspended for a year. Both men previously pleaded guilty in the case to affray.
Judge Tony Baumgartner criticized Brown for the attack on his former friend.
“You, Brown, were holding a tequila bottle in your right hand, when you reached Diaw, you struck him to the left side of his head whilst holding his hood,” the judge said.
He continued, “The repeated use of a glass bottle in that way, especially aimed at the head, was plainly dangerous. It carried the risk of delivering a more serious injury than was ultimately sustained.”
Brown’s attorney offered an apology to the people who witnessed the attack.
“This is an ugly and unattractive incident,” Sallie Bennett-Jenkins KC said. “It is something which undoubtedly would have caused distress to those who are present and for which Mr Brown… offers a profound apology to all those present.”
Brown arrived at the courthouse for his sentencing casually dressed in a black leather jacket, a light-colored turtleneck, baseball cap, a black face mask and sunglasses, as shown in video recorded by news agency AFP.
He was surrounded by bodyguards as news crews and fans filled the area around the courthouse.
The singer and Akinlolu had faced other charges, including attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon, before they were dropped. Both were ordered to pay £1,500 toward court costs.
As previously reported, Diaw filed a civil lawsuit against Brown a few months after the attack. He said at the time he had known the singer for seven years, and thought Brown was approaching him to give him a hug.
Instead, he alleged Brown delivered “crushing blows” to his head with a bottle of Don Julio 1942 tequila. After he fell down, the man said the singer continued to kick and stomp on him while he was passed out on the floor.
Brown has a lengthy rap sheet, and has been arrested multiple times here in the U.S.
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