After a quick investigation into the confrontation between pop diva Britney Spears, San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama, and a member of the player’s security crew, Las Vegas police announced Friday that no charges will be brought against her because she accidentally “hit herself in the face.”
On Wednesday night, Spears said that when attempting to approach Wembanyama at a restaurant in a Las Vegas casino complex, she was assaulted by a security officer. Wembanyama claimed that he was seized from behind by a person—later identified as Spears.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Spears accidentally hit herself while attempting to tap Wembanyama with her palm as she reached up to do so.
Police concluded after conducting an investigation that the security guard did not intentionally or criminally use force or violence towards Spears. According to the report, no one was cited or arrested.
According to the police investigation’s report, surveillance video of the incident “showed Britney going to tap the Spurs player on the shoulder. Without looking, the person who touched the player (redacted) pushed her hand away, causing Britney’s hand to slap herself in the face.
Spears reported a battery in a police complaint.
On Friday night in Las Vegas, Wembanyama is expected to make his NBA Summer League debut for the Spurs. The 7-foot-3 French kid, who was selected first overall in last month’s NBA draft, is gaining as much attention upon joining the league as any player has since LeBron James in 2003.
Spears claimed that the confrontation took place on Wednesday night. She said that earlier in the evening, she had seen Wembanyama at another hotel, and that when she saw him again at the Aria Resort & Casino, she “decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success.”
“His security then backhanded me in the face in front of a crowd without turning around,” Spears recalled. I was almost knocked over, and it nearly knocked my spectacles off my face.
According to the article, when police questioned security personnel for Spears and the Spurs, they both stated that pushing someone’s hand off their shoulder is a common response. The Spurs’ security man claimed that he spoke with Spears afterwards, introduced himself, and apologized. According to Spears’ security team, she also expressed regret, the police report stated.
Mathew Rosengart, Spears’ lawyer in Los Angeles, did not immediately return calls and emails Friday regarding the police report.
The encounter was “super embarrassing,” Spears said in messages on Twitter and Instagram on Thursday. She denied grasping Wembanyama, stating she just “tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.” She said that she hoped the group or the security guard, who she claimed was responsible, would extend an apology.
Wembanyama provided a different version of what happened. As he entered the restaurant, he claimed security told him not to pause for anyone since doing so could spark a commotion and invite a throng. One guy, he claimed, was calling out to him, “Sir, Sir,” and “that person grabbed me from behind.”
He learned that individual was Spears several hours later. He said that he never turned around and as a result, never saw her.
