Justin Bieber has publicly welcomed Chris Brown back to the United States after Brown was released on a $6.7 million bail following his arrest in London.
Brown, 36, was arrested on Thursday, May 15, and charged with “grievous bodily harm” in connection with an alleged nightclub assault in 2023.
The incident reportedly involved music producer Abe Diaw at TAPE nightclub in London. On Thursday, May 22, Brown confirmed his return to the U.S. with an Instagram post showing him stepping off a private jet. He captioned it, “Cook, remain humble. ❤️”
Among thousands of supportive comments, Bieber, 31, wrote simply, “welcome home.” The comment received over 16,400 likes.
Brown and Bieber have collaborated in the past, including the 2011 single Next to You and the 2019 track Don’t Check on Me with artist Ink.
Bieber has shown support for Brown before. In 2019, he referred to Brown as a blend of music legends Michael Jackson and Tupac Shakur. In that post, Bieber also addressed Brown’s troubled past, including his 2009 felony assault case involving Rihanna.
“You will miss what you had in front of you the whole time … trust me, watch you will see,” Bieber wrote at the time. “The people who have overlooked this man’s talent because of a mistake he made, you need to reevaluate.”
Brown’s current legal issues stem from a February 2023 altercation. In a lawsuit filed in November 2023, Diaw claimed Brown struck him multiple times with “crushing blows,” allegedly using a bottle of Don Julio 1942 tequila during the attack. Diaw’s injuries reportedly include head wounds, torn ligaments in his leg, and long-term emotional trauma.
Following his arrest, Brown was denied bail on Friday, May 16. But on Wednesday, May 21, Southwark Crown Court granted his release on strict conditions. According to the BBC, Brown had to pay $4.5 million of the bail amount immediately, with the remaining sum due within a week.
Judge Tony Baumgartner added that Brown must provide his residential details to the court, is not allowed to leave the U.K. without permission, and cannot contact the alleged victim or return to the nightclub where the incident occurred.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Brown is still allowed to proceed with his Breezy Bowl tour. The tour celebrates his 20 years in the music industry and kicks off with a sold-out show in Amsterdam on June 8.
