UPDATED 7/7/23, 2:55 p.m. ET: According to authorities, Spears accidentally hit herself during the scuffle and was not assaulted by Victor Wembanyama's security.
"Police say surveillance video shows Spears inadvertently hit herself in the face after her hand was pushed off Wembanyama," the Associated Press reported on Friday.
Video of the altercation was also released by TMZ, which you can view here.
UPDATED 7/7/23, 12:45 p.m. ET: The Las Vegas Metro Police Department has confirmed no charges will be filed in connection with Victor Wembanyama's security slapping Britney Spears.
"The LVMPD has concluded its investigation of the alleged battery that occurred on July 5, 2023, at 11 p.m., in the 3700 block of Las Vegas Boulevard," authorities confirmed. "No charges will be filed against the person involved."
UPDATED 7/6/23, 6:17 p.m. ET: Britney Spears has shared a statement and her side of what transpired.
"Traumatic experiences are not new to me and I have had my fair share of the. I was not prepared for what happened to me last night," the note reads.
Spears said she "decided to approach" Victor Wembanyama and "congratulate him on his success." She claims she only tapped Wembanyama on the shoulder and denies ever grabbing him. Spears said that she was then "backhanded" in the face by security.
You can read her full statement below.
See original story below.
Britney Spears was reportedly backhanded in the face by a member of Victor Wembanyama’s security team in Las Vegas this week.
According to TMZ, the alleged incident took place near the Catch restaurant at the ARIA Hotel on Wednesday night. Spears and her husband, Sam Asghari, were in the area for dinner when Spears tapped Wembanyama on the shoulder to ask for a pic. At this point, per the report, the Spurs’ Director of Team Security is alleged to have “backhanded” Spears.
As a result, the singer reportedly took a fall to the ground. While the security official is further alleged to have apologized, TMZ notes that a police report over alleged battery was later filed.
When reached for comment by Complex on Thursday, a spokesperson with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department offered the following:
“On July 5, 2023, at approximately 11 p.m., LVMPD officers responded to a property in the 3700 block of Las Vegas Boulevard regarding a battery investigation. The incident has been documented on a police report and no arrest or citations have been issued. No further details will be provided at this time.”
Complex has also reached out to the NBA and a rep for Spears. This story may be updated.
Wembanyama spoke to reporters about the situation, saying:
"I didn't see what happened because we were told don't stop, but that person grabbed me from behind. Not on my shoulder, she grabbed me from behind. So I looked at the security to push her away. I don't how it was forced though. Security pushed her away and I didn't stop to look so I kept walking."
He didn't know it was Spears for a "couple hours." When he got back to his hotel, he thought his security was joking when they said the person pushed was Spears. "It turns out it was Britney Spears, but I never saw her face," he says.
At the top of the month, the Spurs announced their signing of 19-year-old Wembanyama, who was selected with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Though official contract details are not made public, Spotrac reported the four-year deal to be worth $55.1 million.
“It feels like I always should have worn this [uniform],” Wembanyama later told Michelle Beadle in a special rookies interview segment shared this week.
Spears, meanwhile, recently made headlines for her announcement that she and her mother had reconciled after spending several years at odds.
“Time heals all wounds!!!” Spears told fans in an Instagram post shared in May. “And after being able to communicate what I’ve held in for an extremely long time, I feel so blessed we were able to try to make things RIGHT.”
