Britney Spears speaks out after she says NBA star Victor Wembanayma’s security team backhanded her face
Britney Spears says she was hit in the face in Las Vegas this week by a member of NBA player Victor Wembanyama’s security team. The former X Factor USA judge and pop star approached the player in a restaurant to say hello. That’s when the guard reportedly backhanded her.
Afterward, she filed a police report. According to TMZ., the man who hit her is Damian Smith, the Director of Team Security for the San Antonio Spurs. Law enforcement told TMZ that according to the security camera footage, Smith pushed Britney’s hand away and then her hand, not Smith’s, struck her face.
Britney shared a Tweet on Thursday explaining her side of the story.
Britney speaks out after the incident
“Traumatic experiences are not new to me and I have had my fair share of them. I was not prepared for what happened to me last night,” Britney wrote, adding that she recognized Wembanyama and decided to approach him
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“I decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success. It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention,” she said in her tweet. “I am aware of the players statement where he mentions ‘I grabbed him from behind’ but 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.”
“I get swarmed by people all the time,” Britney continued, “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 wrote.
“I have yet to get a public apology from the player”
“This story is super embarrassing to share with the world but it’s out there already,” Britney wrote. “However, I think it’s important to share this story and to urge people in the public eye to set an example and treat all people with respect,” she wrote. “Physical violence is happening too much in this world. Often behind closed doors. I stand with all the victims and my heart goes out to all of you!!!”
“I have yet to get a public apology from the player, his security or their organization. I hope they will,” Britney concluded. However, reports say that after the incident, Wembanyama’s head of security “went over to Britney and apologized” while their respective “security teams chatted for a while.”
“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.”
Britney’s husband defends her
Britney’s husband, Sam Asghari, who was with his wife at the restaurant when the incident occured, spoke up to defend his wife on social media.
“I am opposed to violence in any form, especially, without justification in the defense of yourself or someone else who is unable to defend themselves,” he wrote via his Instagram Story on Thursday. “Self-defense can be unavoidable, but the defense of any woman, especially my wife, is not debatable. I consider my reaction subdued considering what occurred, and I hope the man in question learns a lesson and changes his disregard for women. Thank you for the support.”
According to Las Vegas police, no arrest or citations have been issued.
