Las Vegas, Nevada – An encounter involving pop superstar Britney Spears and the security detail for NBA rookie Victor Wembanyama at a Las Vegas hotel has sparked public debate, with differing accounts of what transpired.
The incident took place on Wednesday evening at the ARIA Hotel, where Wembanyama, the towering 7-foot-5 first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, was present. Spears stated that she had spotted the young French player at the Catch restaurant and sought to approach him.
According to a statement posted on her social media channels, Spears said she recognized Wembanyama and wanted to congratulate him on his achievements. She described tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention, noting that it was “really loud” in the venue.
Spears alleged that upon her touch, Wembanyama’s security guard “backhanded her in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd.” She stated that the blow nearly knocked her over and caused her glasses to fall off, describing the overall situation as a “traumatic experience.”
She shared the story, which she called “super embarrassing to share with the world,” in order to “urge people in the public eye to set an example and treat all people with respect.” Spears also emphasized that “Physical violence is occurring far too frequently in this world, often behind closed doors.”
She spoke out again later, elaborating on her experience as a celebrity. Drawing a comparison to her time traveling with the group NSYNC, Spears noted that fans would “literally throw themselves at the group,” yet their security never responded with physical force.
Spears also recounted an incident that same night when she was “swarmed by a group of at least 20 fans,” stating emphatically, “My security team didn’t strike any of them.” This perspective underscored her view that the reaction from Wembanyama’s security was unwarranted and excessive.
Reflecting further, Spears expressed feelings of helplessness stemming from the incident, comparing it to her past struggles, including the 13-year conservatorship. She said, “I do not feel as though I have been treated as an equal individual in this country.”
In the aftermath, Spears took to Instagram and posted a meme that read, “You will smile again.” In the caption, she posed the poignant question, “When’s that, God?” indicating the distress caused by the encounter.
Wembanyama offered a different perspective on the events during a press conference. He stated that as he was walking, someone “grabbed him from behind.” He noted that he had been told not to stop in order to prevent a crowd from forming.
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He said his security then “pushed her away,” but he did not observe precisely what had happened because he was focused on continuing to walk. The 19-year-old player stated that he only learned hours later that the individual involved was Britney Spears, initially thinking his security team was “joking.”
Wembanyama also mentioned that he did not know “how much force” had been used by security during the interaction.
The security guard involved was identified in media reports as Damian Smith, who was reportedly the security director for the San Antonio Spurs. Spears and her team reportedly filed a battery charge against Smith following the incident.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that it had responded to a report of a battery incident in the area around 11 p.m. on Wednesday night. An investigation was initiated into the matter.
The police investigation included reviewing surveillance video footage of the incident. According to the police report, this footage presented a different sequence of events from that initially described by Spears.
Authorities stated that, based on the video, the security guard pushed Spears’ hand away from Wembanyama without looking, and this action caused Spears’ hand to inadvertently strike her own face. The police report notes that the guard “did not willfully or unlawfully employ any force or violence upon Britney.”
Based on the conclusion of their investigation, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced that they would not be filing charges or issuing citations against the security guard. They determined that probable cause did not exist to substantiate a criminal battery charge.
However, this police account based on the surveillance video appears to conflict with Spears’ direct statement that the guard “backhanded her in the face.” Some media reports have also interpreted the video footage differently.
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A video obtained by TMZ, for instance, reportedly shows Spears approaching Wembanyama and saying, “Excuse me, sir,” before lightly touching him on the shoulder. This report claims that the video refutes Wembanyama’s version that she “grabbed” him.
While the TMZ report also noted that the video does not show Smith slapping Spears directly in the face or her being knocked to the ground as she initially described, it suggested that Smith went “overboard” in moving her away from Wembanyama.
A source close to Spears also contested the police finding that she hit herself, stating, “He smacked her; the video shows this.” This source characterized the guard’s actions as dangerous and “disgusting,” arguing that excessive force had been used.
The source close to Spears questioned what would have happened if the person approaching had been “a little kid” or “a handicapped person,” suggesting that the guard’s reaction would warrant arrest and imprisonment in such a scenario.
They felt that the security guard “just swung” without knowing who was behind him, stating that there was “no commotion” preceding the incident and that “No one was running. No one was screaming.”
Spears has publicly stated that she does not blame Victor Wembanyama for the incident, clarifying that the responsibility lies with the security guard’s actions.
She expressed disappointment that she has “yet to receive a public apology from the player, his security team, or their organization,” despite having reportedly received a letter of regret or an apology from the guard at her table approximately 30 minutes after the event.
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A source close to Spears echoed her desire for an apology, stating, “All she wants is an apology, and she has not received one. Suck it up and apologize.” They felt the organization was being a “bully” by attempting to “spin this by saying her hand hit her own face when it did not.”
Her husband, Sam Asghari, who witnessed the incident and was seen in the TMZ video footage, also spoke out in defense of Spears. He stated on social media that his wife had been “physically assaulted” and directed blame towards the “coward who did this,” the people who hired him “without proper vetting,” and a broader “systemic culture of disregard for women within sports and entertainment.”
Asghari, however, echoed Spears in stating that the incident should not “cast a shadow on the accomplishments of a great young man on the rise,” like Wembanyama.
The incident has also drawn reactions from others in the public eye. Rapper TTE Notti reportedly sided with Britney Spears, offering his perspective on the situation.
Notti reportedly stated, “Britney [Spears] is one of us, and mental health is real. Nobody wanted to help her,” adding claims about the “atrocities of the world” and suggesting that Spears was being “sidelined” due to the embarrassing encounter.
A witness quoted in reports stated that after the incident, Spears was seen sitting calmly in the restaurant, though this witness also claimed that Spears was “super pissed” about what had occurred.
Spears is an established figure in the pop music world, having achieved massive fame from a young age. Her career and personal life have faced numerous challenges, including a widely publicized public breakdown and a 13-year conservatorship, from which she has recently emerged.
Wembanyama, on the other hand, is at the beginning of what is anticipated to be a significant career in the NBA. Drafted first overall by the San Antonio Spurs, he is considered one of the most highly-touted prospects in two decades, drawing comparisons to players like LeBron James.
The encounter took place just ahead of Wembanyama’s highly anticipated debut for the San Antonio Spurs at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Spears later addressed comments from a radio station that she had heard, stating that the report suggested she “deserved to be smacked” and that security was simply “doing their job.” She reiterated that “no woman ever deserves to be hit.”
Despite the police investigation concluding without any charges being brought against the security guard, the incident continues to be a subject of public discussion, highlighting differing viewpoints on interactions between celebrities, security personnel, and the public sphere.
The various accounts from those involved and the findings of the police investigation, which were based on surveillance footage, provide a complex picture of the brief but widely reported encounter in Las Vegas.
