‘Free Tory’: What Chris Brown said hours before Manchester arrest in nightclub case
Rapper Chris Brown was arrested in Manchester on Thursday over a 2023 case when he allegedly assaulted a music producer
Rapper Chris Brown was arrested in Manchester on Thursday over a 2023 case when he allegedly assaulted a music producer at a London nightclub. The R&B star was nabbed at The Lowry Hotel around 2 AM on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm to Abe Diaw in February 2023. TMZ cited sources to report that Brown was taken to a police station for questioning.

Hours before his arrest, the 36-year-old shared a post on his Instagram story about Tory Lanez, who is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for shooting at Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. On Wednesday, Lanez's lawyers claimed that new evidence in the case suggested that the Canadian rapper was innocent. This comes after Tory Lanez was stabbed in prison.

Soon after Lanez's lawyers made the massive claim at a press conference, a petition was posted on the artist's social media handles, urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon him. Many of his fans joined the movement, and ‘Free Tory’ was trending on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. Chris Brown, too, posted a ‘Free Tory’ Instagram story to show his support for the rapper.
Chris Brown's support for Lanez comes after the latter was stabbed in prison. “Tory was stabbed 14 times - including 7 wounds to his back, 4 to his torso, 2 to the back of his head, and 1 to the left side of his face. Both of his lungs collapsed, and he was placed on breathing apparatus. He is now breathing on his own,” a statement on Tory Lanez's social media accounts read.
"Despite being in pain, he is talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through. He also wants to thank everyone for their continued prayers and support," it added.
But now it seems Brown has his own legal troubles to take care of. The rapper has had a vast criminal record, with several arrests over the years. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to felony assault after hitting his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna. In 2013, the 36-year-old was arrested for felony assault in Washington, DC, after he and his bodyguard allegedly hit a concert-goer.
He was arrested in 2016 on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in Los Angeles, though charges were never filed.
ABOUT THE AUTHORYash Nitish BajajYash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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