A TMZ report on Thursday said that Britney Spears was allegedly slapped by a San Antonio Spurs director of security as she was trying to speak with rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama in Las Vegas.
The site says that she had filed a police report and that there could be criminal charges brought.
Wembanyama himself addressed the alleged incident on Thursday while speaking with reporters. He said he was in a hall with many people calling out to him, “and there was one person who was who’s calling me … and that person grabbed me from behind.”
The rookie had no idea when happened afterwards but knew that he had gotten grabbed by multiple people, including — he implied — the singer. But he says he never saw her face.
Here’s his whole answer:
.@vicw_32 on the situation last night involving Britney Spears pic.twitter.com/I0mHJvJzs4
— Cassidy Hubbarth (@CassidyHubbarth) July 6, 2023
He said:
“When I was working with some security of the team to the restaurant, we were in a hall. There was a lot of people. So people were calling me obviously. And there was one person who was calling me, but we talked before with the security — don’t stop because it’s gonna make a crowd, so I couldn’t stop. So that person was calling me, ‘Sir, sir.’ And that person grabbed me from behind.
“So I didn’t see what happened because I was walking straight and was told don’t stop, but a person grabbed me from behind. Not on my shoulder; she grabbed me from behind, and so I just know that the security pushed her away. I don’t know with how much force though that security pushed her away, and I didn’t I didn’t stop to look.”
Thursday evening, Spears responded with a statement on social media, explaining that she saw and recognized Wembanyama earlier on the day of the alleged incident and, when she saw him again later, decided to congratulate him on his success.
— Britney Spears 🌹🚀 (@britneyspears) July 6, 2023
In her statement, Spears said:
“It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. I am aware of the players [sic] statement where he mentions ‘I grabbed him from behind’ but I simply tapped him on the shoulder. His security then back handed me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd. Nearly knocking me down and causing my glasses [to fall] off my face.
“I get swarmed by people all the time. In fact, that night. I was swarmed by a group of at least 20 fans. My security team didn’t hit any of them.”
Spears added that she has not received a public apology from Wembanyama, the Spurs or the team’s security.
