Las Vegas police said Thursday they are investigating an incident between French NBA top draft pick Victor Wembanyama’s security and pop star Britney Spears, who said she suffered facial injuries. Wembaniama is in Las Vegas and was heading to a restaurant before his first NBA Summer League game against Charlotte on Friday when he was spotted by fans — and Spears. Media reports said Spears was pushed away by Wembanyama’s security, which the singer’s husband Sam Asgari said was “violent” and “out of control”.
Wembanyama told reporters after practice that he heard about Spears’ involvement hours after his dinner.
“There was a guy who was calling me but we talked to security beforehand (not) because it was going to create a crowd,” the French said.
“The man was calling me ‘sir sir’ and the man grabbed me from behind, so I couldn’t see that I was walking straight.
“I don’t know with how much force but security pushed him away and I didn’t stop to look so I kept walking and enjoying a nice dinner.”
Spears said he only wanted to wish the player well and questioned Wembanyama’s account.
“I recognized an athlete in my hotel lobby when I was going to dinner. I later went to a restaurant in a different hotel and saw him again. I decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success,” he said on Instagram.
“I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. I am aware of the players statement where he mentioned ‘I grabbed him from behind’ but I just tapped him on the shoulder,” he said.
“His security then backhanded me in the face without looking back in front of the crowd. Almost knocked me over and broke my glasses. [to fall] Shut my mouth.”
The Las Vegas Police Department investigated the incident but took no action.
“On July 5, 2023, at approximately 11 a.m., LVMPD officers responded to a property in the 3700 block of Las Vegas Boulevard in reference to a battery investigation,” police said in a statement.
“The incident has been documented in a police report and no arrests or citations have been issued. No further details will be released at this time.”
Asghari posted on social media that Spears had been “assaulted”.
“The violent behavior of an out-of-control security guard should not overshadow the achievements of a great young man in the rise of @wemby,” he wrote.
“I can’t imagine a scenario where an unarmed female fan, showing any kind of excitement or admiration for a celebrity, would be physically assaulted, punched in the face for tapping someone on the shoulder.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
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