The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced Friday that it would not file charges following a short investigation into the exchange between pop star Britney Spears, Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama and a member of his security team.
The Grammy Award-winning artist previously filed a police report, citing battery charges after she said she was slapped by a security guard when trying to approach Wembanyama for a picture at Catch restaurant inside of the ARIA hotel on Wednesday night, per TMZ. In a police report confirmed by the Los Angeles Times, Spears—a fan of Wembanyama—attempted to get the French player’s attention by tapping him on his right shoulder.
But when she attempted to do so, Spurs director of team security Damian Smith immediately backhanded her, knocking Spears’s glasses off, according to TMZ. In the police report, Cade Hudson—Spears’s manager—confirmed that the pop star was struck in the face, per ESPN.
On Friday, the LVMPD stated that its investigation was complete and that “no charges will be filed against the person involved.” Authorities said surveillance video revealed that Spears accidentally hit herself in the face after her hand was pushed away from Wembanyama.
TMZ released video of the incident on Friday afternoon.
🚨VIDEO OF BRITNEY/WEMBY INCIDENT SHOWS SHE DIDN’T GRAB HIM🚨 Full video here: https://t.co/nSXYAE6jhu pic.twitter.com/uMBqtLKJGN
— TMZ (@TMZ) July 7, 2023
On Thursday, the 7’3” Spurs center stated that “something did happen a little bit” while he was with security at the restaurant. However, Wembanyama “didn’t see what happened” because he was “walking straight” when a person “grabbed” him “from behind.”
It was not until hours later that Wembanyama found out it was Spears. In a post on her Instagram story, Spears stated that the altercation was “super embarrassing” and that she was optimistic about receiving an apology from the team or the security guard.
However, according to the police report, Wembanyama’s security member apologized to Spears while she was eating dinner inside the restaurant.
Wembanyama is set to make his NBA Summer League debut against the Hornets on Friday night in Las Vegas.
