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Britney Spears was ‘shocked and angry’ after NBA star Victor Wembanyama’s security guard ‘slapped her in the face’ in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
The singer, 41, who broke her silence on the alleged incident and said the ‘hit nearly knocked me down’, was speaking in a ‘very animated voice’ that the security guard ‘punched’ her in the face, as she pointed at the guy who was sitting at another table, according to a new eyewitness.
The eyewitness claims Britney’s security guard went to Victor’s security and asked for him to apologize at her table at Catch Restaurant.
They allege the guard – Damian Smith – walked over and said: ‘I’m sorry’ and claimed he ‘didn’t know it was her when he made contact.’
Britney was said to be ‘in shock and angry and couldn’t believe it happened’ – before going to the bathroom, reports TMZ.
Britney Spears was ‘shocked and angry’ after NBA star Victor Wembanyama’s security guard ‘slapped her in the face’ in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Alleged attacker: Wembanyama is seen left with security guard Damian Smith who is alleged to have struck Spears
This comes as the star rejected Wembanyama’s claim that she grabbed him from behind before his security guard allegedly slapped her in the face.
The singer claimed she ‘simply tapped him on the shoulder’ after recognizing him at the ARIA Hotel in Las Vegas.
She added on Instagram that the force of the hit – allegedly by Damian Smith – ‘nearly knocked me down’ and that she ‘was not prepared’ for it.
Her comments came just hours after NBA top draft pick Wembanyama addressed the alleged attack at a press conference.
He appeared to dismiss the pop star’s version of events, arguing she tried to grab him from behind which forced his team into action.
Spears said: ‘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 off my face.’
The pop star called the story ‘super embarrassing to share with the world but it’s already out there’ and claimed that her security team has never assaulted anyone despite decades of being mobbed by fans.
‘I get swarmed by people all the time,’ she said. ‘In fact, that night, I was swarmed by a group of at least 20 fans. My security team didn’t hit any of them.’
Wembanyama said during a press scrum at the NBA Summer League that Spears ‘grabbed me from behind’ which led his team to spring into action
She said she was speaking out because she felt it was ‘important to share this story and to urge people in the public eye to to set an example and treat all people with respect.’
Spears also revealed that she has not gotten an apology from Wembanyama or his team, but hopes she will.
‘I cherish the tremendous amounts of love and support I am receiving at the moment. Thank you to the Las Vegas PD and the detectives for their support.’
Spears’ security team has reportedly since filed a police report against the security guard in question, who has been identified as Smith – accusing him of battery.
Wembanyama, considered one of the most-hyped basketball prospects in decades, said that Spears grabbed him from behind.
‘I didn’t see what happened, because I was walking straight and we were told, ‘Don’t stop,” Wembanyama said. ‘But that person grabbed me from behind — not on my shoulder, she grabbed me from behind — and so I just know the security pushed her away.’
Spears specifically responded to this allegation, saying that she did not grab him but did tap him from behind before she was attack.
Wembanyama said he was unsure of what exactly happened to Spears and how much force his security guard used.
‘I don’t know with how much force, though. But security pushed her away. I didn’t stop to look so I could walk in and enjoy the nice dinner.’
The San Antonio Spurs’ rookie said that he was unaware who the woman who approached him was until hours later.
‘At first I was like, ‘No, you’re joking,” he said. ‘But, yeah, it turns out it was Britney Spears.’
Spears’ husband Asghari also posted a statement on his Instagram story defending his wife – whom he said was ‘physically assaulted’ – and slamming Wembanyama’s security team but saying that it shouldn’t be held against the 19-year-old.
‘The violent behavior of an out-of-control security guard should not cast a shadow on the accomplishment of a great young man on the rise @wemby,’ he said, tagging Wembanyama.
‘The blame should fall on the coward who did this, the people who hired him without proper vetting, and a systemic culture of disregard for women within sports and entertainment.’
Both Britney Spears and NBA top draft pick Victor Webanyama have spoken out about the basketball star’s security team allegedly slapping her in the face after she tried to get a photo with him
Spears’ husband Sam Asghari also posted a statement on his Instagram story defending his wife – whom he said was ‘physically assaulted’ – and slamming Wembanyama’s security team but saying that it shouldn’t be held against the 19-year-old
Photos show Wembanyama and Smith walking together moments before the alleged incident.
Spears is said to have approached him in an attempt to take a photo – which is when the team’s Director of Security Smith is said to have struck Spears in the face while trying to defend the sports star.
According to TMZ, the popstar was thrown to the ground by the force of the blow, which also knocked off her glasses.
An eyewitness has also claimed Spears approached Wembanyama and said in a British accent: ‘Excuse me sir, excuse me, sir’ before screaming ‘This is f*****g America!’ after the alleged assault as Victor walked into the restaurant.
A law enforcement source told the publication Smith hit Britney’s hand and her hand then hit her face, with the eyewitness countering that by stating he saw Smith strike her.
DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Spears and Wembanyama.
The Metro PD is said to have interviewed the singer on Thursday morning with the case ‘likely’ to be sent to the District Attorney for review.
It’s understood that the incident between Spears and Smith occurred after she approached the teenage basketball star and tapped him on the back in an attempt to get his attention, with reports suggesting that the security guard ‘instantly backhanded’ the singer when he saw her touching Wembanyama.
‘Britney saw Victor and walked up to tap him on the back to ask for a photo,’ a source told Us Weekly of the altercation.
‘His security was being mobbed with fans and he turned around trying to push Britney off and hit her in the face, knocking off her glasses.’
Following the shocking altercation, Spears is said to have got back on her her feet and returned to her table while staying composed.
Smith reportedly approached her table shortly afterwards in order to offer an apology.
‘You understand how it is when you’re being swarmed by fans,’ he allegedly told her.
Sources also said Smith claimed he didn’t know who Britney was when he saw her trying to get Wembanyama’s attention – and that he thought she was just another fan.
Violent eruption: The pop superstar reportedly approached the NBA star (seen on Wednesday) when a member of his security allegedly smacked her in the face
Coupled up: Spears had been enjoying some down time in Las Vegas at the Catch restaurant in the ARIA Hotel around 8:30 p.m. with husband Sam Asghari and two other people
Unexpected outcome: Spears, who is a fan of Wembanyama (seen Wednesday in Vegas), spotted him and went over to tap him on the shoulder to ask for a photo. That’s when the Spurs’ Director of Team Security Damian Smith allegedly backhanded her across the face
Shocking force: Smith reportedly hit the pop star so hard that she fell to the ground and her glasses flew off her face. He later came to her table to apologize, which she reportedly accepted; Wembanyama seen Wednesday in Las Vegas
Getting police involved: Despite Spears reportedly accepting Smith’s apology, her security team then met with him and afterward filed a police report alleging battery, though police reportedly believe he was only trying to protect the Spurs star
Rising star: Wembanyama, a French basketball player, is considered one of the most promising new stars in the sport, and he was selected by the Spurs first overall in the 2023 draft; seen June 22 in Brooklyn
At the time, Spears seemingly accepted his apology, but things appear to have taken a turn for the severe when her own security team got involved.
They reportedly discussed the incident with Smith, and after chatting with him decided to file a police report with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, accusing him of battery.
It’s unclear if Spears was involved in her security team’s decision to file the police report, however TMZ reported that Vegas police were due to meet with the popstar today in order to discuss the incident.
Law enforcement sources initially told the publication that the case was not being investigated as a criminal matter, claiming that officers had determined that Smith was just attempting to defend Wembanyama, rather than trying to hurt Spears.
However, the outlet later issued an update stating that it had received ‘contrary information about the police investigation from a source high up in the Metro PD’, who claimed that the cops were pursuing a ‘criminal investigation’ and that they were ‘taking the incident as serious as a heart attack’.
The source added that the case was ‘likely to be referred to the DA’.
Wembanyama, a French basketball player, is considered one of the most promising new stars in the sport, and he was selected by the Spurs in the 2023 draft.
The 7ft 5in center was the first overall pick after spending the last few years playing professionally in France.
