The security guard for NBA sensation Victor Wembanyama will not be charged after allegedly slapping Britney Spears in the face.
The San Antonio Spurs player’s private security guard allegedly assaulted the singer after she tried to meet him at Catch restaurant in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
A spokesperson for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced Friday that an investigation into the incident has come to an end.
‘No charges will be filed against the person involved,’ the spokesperson said.
Wembanyama said the clash erupted when Spears abruptly grabbed him from behind, leading his security guard to spring into action, while the singer claimed she ‘simply tapped him on the shoulder’.
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
Britney Spears says that NBA top draft pick Victor Wembanyama’s security guard ‘back handed me in the face’ and ‘nearly knocked me down’ after she attempted to meet the basketball star
The two stars have gone back-and-forth over the incident in the days since, with Wembanyama telling a press conference Thursday that Spears ‘grabbed’ him as she tried to meet him in the ritzy restaurant.
Speaking ahead of his first ever game for the San Antonio Spurs, the 19-year-old admitted he didn’t realize the person who grabbed him was Spears until hours later.
‘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 has claimed that the security guard sent her tumbling painfully to the ground, but Wembanyama said at the time he didn’t know how hard she was struck.
‘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,’ he said.
Standing at 7ft 4inches, Victor Wembanyama is one of the hottest prospects in basketball in years. He is pictured playing an exhibition game in Nevada in October 2022
However, Spears rejected his version of events and claimed the ‘grab’ was actually a ‘simple tap on the shoulder’.
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.
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.’
She said she decided to speak out because she felt it was ‘important to share this story and to urge people in the public eye to set an example and treat all people with respect.’
Spears has claimed she is yet to receive an apology from the NBA rookie or his security team, but said she hasn’t given up hope one is coming.
‘I cherish the tremendous amounts of love and support I am receiving at the moment,’ she said.
‘Thank you to the Las Vegas PD and the detectives for their support.’
Spears’ team filed a police report for battery after being allegedly struck by the guard, sparking the investigation by Las Vegas police.
Moment: Britney Spears has been pictured moments before being ‘slapped in the face’ by an overzealous security guard when she tried to snap a photo with NBA star Victor Wembanyama
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
Spears’ husband Sam Asghari also posted a statement on his Instagram story defending his wife – whom he said was ‘physically assaulted’.
He also slammed Wembanyama’s security team, but said the incident 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.’
