Wireless Festival 2022: Chris Brown has announced he will be performing at the UK’s first festival in 12 years

Chris Brown has been announced as a performer for this summer’s Wireless Festival, marking his first appearance at a UK festival in over a decade.

The multi-venue music event takes place over two weekends in July at London’s Crystal Palace Park and Finsbury Park and outdoors at the NEC in Birmingham.

The singer has been added to the schedule of shows at Crystal Palace and Birmingham in a surprise festival announcement on Wednesday (25 May).

“You asked? We deliver… ALWAYS,” read a message from the event’s official Twitter account. “For the first time in 12 years… @chrisbrown will return to the UK to close Crystal Palace and Birmingham.”

Brown will perform at Crystal Palace on Friday July 1st and in Birmingham on Saturday July 9th.

As of November 2021, the ‘Go Crazy’ singer had not performed in a capacity in the UK for over a decade. He made a special appearance during Wizkid’s show at the O2 Arena.

Brown was banned from entering the UK in 2010 after being arrested in 2009 for assaulting then-girlfriend, artist Rihanna, after a Grammys party.

Reactions to the singer’s addition to the Wireless Festival lineup have been mixed.

“Have you forgotten why he was denied entry?” A concerned person responded to the announcement, while another told festival organizers: “No one asked for this, we actually asked that you not do this.”

Others have shared their excitement at Brown’s festival comeback in the UK, praising Wireless for the news. One fan wrote: “You have no idea how long UK fans have wanted to see Chris Brown. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”