Assault and Battery Charge Against 'Empire' Star Bryshere Gray Dropped
LOS ANGELES – An assault and battery charge filed earlier this year against "Empire" actor Bryshere Gray has been dropped, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed Thursday evening.
The actor, best known for his role as Hakeem Lyon on the hit Fox musical drama, was arrested in May 2025 following an alleged altercation at a Hollywood nightclub. The DA's office cited "insufficient evidence to proceed to trial" as the primary reason for their decision not to move forward with the case.
The charge stemmed from an incident on the night of May 15, 2025, when police were called to a popular venue on the Sunset Strip. At the time, law enforcement sources reported that another patron alleged Gray had struck him during a heated argument in the club’s VIP section. Gray was arrested, booked, and released on bail the following morning.
In a statement, Gray’s attorney, high-profile lawyer Nina Salgado, said her client was pleased with the outcome. "Bryshere has maintained his innocence from the beginning and is grateful that the District Attorney's office has rightfully decided not to pursue this matter," Salgado wrote. "He is looking forward to putting this behind him and focusing on his music and his future."
This recent legal issue comes several years after Gray faced more serious charges in a highly publicized domestic violence case. In 2021, the actor was sentenced to 10 days in county jail and three years of probation in Arizona after pleading guilty to felony aggravated assault. That case stemmed from a 2020 incident involving his wife, who alleged Gray had assaulted her for hours. As part of that plea agreement, Gray was also required to pay restitution and enroll in a domestic violence offender treatment program.
Since completing his jail sentence, Gray has kept a relatively low public profile, though he has recently hinted on social media about a return to the recording studio. For now, the actor is clear of the May 2025 charge, closing the latest chapter in his tumultuous legal history.