US singer Chris Brown has kicked off his UK tour in Manchester, days before he is due back in court after being arrested in the city last month.
The Grammy-winning star performed to thousands of fans at Manchester's Co-op Live arena on Sunday, with a string of stadium dates to follow in other cities.
On Friday, he will appear in court in London for the latest hearing after he was charged with grievous bodily harm over an alleged assault in a nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old, who is free on £5m bail, has not yet been asked to enter a plea.
"Thank you for coming and supporting me," he said to fans in Manchester. "And thank you to the jail," he joked, referring to a spell in custody after his arrest. "It was really nice."
A video montage was shown of his career highs and lows, including brief clips of TV news footage from outside the Manchester court after he was arrested, which was met by a supportive roar from his loyal fans.
