Authorities said Friday that pop singer Britney Spears accidentally hit herself in the face during an incident with San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama that prompted the pop star to file a police report saying she had been assaulted by a security guard.
The Associated Press reported that Spears “inadvertently hit herself in the face after her hand was pushed off Wembanyama,” according to Las Vegas police. Video of the incident taken by a bystander shows Spears running up to Wembanyama, the No. 1 overall pick in the recent NBA draft, and reaching out to tap him when a member of his security flung his arm back to get her hand away from Wembanyama.
At that moment the video appears to show, when played slowly, that the security guard’s hand bumped her hand into her face.
TMZ has obtained the video of Britney Spears getting struck in the face by Victor Wembanyama’s security guard after she tapped him in the shoulder to ask for a photo. pic.twitter.com/LMUuRCw8Su
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 7, 2023
Spears filed a police report after the incident unfolded Wednesday night when the 41-year-old singer spotted the Spurs’ power forward at Catch restaurant in the Aria Hotel.
Police said Friday that no charges will be filed against the security guard who they said simply brushed her hand away from Wembanyama.
The French basketball player said Thursday that there were a lot of people inside the hall at the restaurant when the incident happened.
“So people calling me obviously, there was one person, one person who was was calling me, but we talked before with the security, don’t stop because it’s going to make a crowd. So I couldn’t stop,” he said. “And that person grabbed me from behind. So I didn’t see, I didn’t see what happened, because I was walking straight … but that person grabbed me from behind. Not on my shoulder. She grabbed me from behind.”
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“So I just know that the security pushed her away, I don’t know with how with how much force, though,” he said.
Spears responded to Wembanyama’s claims in a post on Instagram, calling it a “traumatic experience.”
“I was not prepared for what happened to me last night,” she said. “I recognized an athlete in my hotel lobby as I was heading to dinner. I later went to a restaurant at a different hotel and saw him again. I decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success.”
“It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. I am aware of the player’s statement where he mentions ‘I grabbed him from behind’ but I simply tapped him on the shoulder,” she continued. “His security then backhanded me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd. Nearly knocking me down and causing my glasses off my face.”
Spears said that she gets swarmed all the time by fans, but her security never strikes any of them.
She called the story “super embarrassing to share,” but said that it was important because public figures needed to be mindful about setting a positive example by treating all people with respect.
“Physical violence is happening too much in this world. Often behind closed doors,” she said. “I stand with all the victims and my heart goes out to all of you!!! I have yet to get a public apology from the player, his security, or their organization. I hope they will.”