Chris Brown avoids jail: 8-month suspended sentence for London tequila bottle attack

A London judge gave Chris Brown eight months, suspended for 12 months, at Southwark Crown Court for the 2023 tequila bottle attack on producer Abraham Diaw at Tape nightclub. He pleaded guilty to affray in July. A new charge in the next year could send him to serve the time.

Chris Brown is not going to jail. A London judge gave him eight months, suspended for 12 months, on Monday at Southwark Crown Court for the February 2023 attack on producer Abraham Diaw at Tape nightclub in Mayfair. In court they played the CCTV: Brown swung a heavy tequila bottle at Diaw four times, hitting his head twice, before he had to be pulled away. His vocal coach Omololu Akinlolu got four months, also suspended, and both have to pay £1,500 in costs. Judge Tony Baumgartner called it "plainly dangerous" and said fame does not buy special treatment. Brown pleaded guilty to affray in July after more serious GBH charges were dropped. If he picks up a new charge in the next 12 months, he can be sent to serve the time. Fans cheered outside as he left, and he blew a kiss to the crowd.

Sources: Reuters, AP, Evening Standard, BBC News and Sky News (Oct. 26, 2026). Photo: UK police custody image via @ukmashups on X.