A new video has shown the shocking moment Britney Spears was slapped by NBA star Victor Wembanyama’s security guard – and it proved she didn’t grab him.
The footage shows the moments leading up to the shock incident outside Catch restaurant in the ARIA Hotel, Las Vegas on Wednesday – with Britney, 41, running up to Victor, 19, and exclaiming ‘sir, sir, sir!’ in a British accent before tapping him on the shoulder.
As she taps the star on the left side, the guard, who does not turn around – is seen backhanding her – either hitting in the face or causing her hand to fly into her face, with the star crying out and her glasses knocked off the impact.
The singer is immediately swarmed by her loved ones in the wake of the slap.
After the slap, an upset Britney is heard calling out in a British accent: ‘That’s America for you. F*** you all!’
Meanwhile the Las Vegas Police Department’s investigation found that Spears had actually been the one to hit herself in the face after Wembayama’s security guard pushed her hand off of the NBA prospect.
Shock moment: A new video has shown the shocking moment Britney Spears was slapped by NBA star Victor Wembanyama’s security guard – and it proved she didn’t grab him
Before: A clip obtained by TMZ shows the moments leading up to the shock incident outside Catch restaurant in the ARIA Hotel, Las Vegas on Wednesday – with Britney, 41, running up to Victor, 19, and exclaiming ‘sir, sir, sir!’ in a British accent before tapping him on the shoulder
Detective John Santo filed the report which was released on Friday and includes information that he had with two members of Spears’ security team who both said that this was the ‘standard response’ for most security/body guards.
One of the members of Spears’ security team said that the pop star was not hit with a closed fist and that Wembenyama’s security guard had pushed his hand off the Spurs player without looking and knowing who was tapping him on the shoulder.
Wembanyama had claimed 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’.
This comes after it emerged the security guard for NBA sensation Wembanyama will not be charged for the incident.
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.
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 sports star admitted he didn’t realize the person who grabbed him was Spears until hours later.
‘At first I was like, ‘No, you’re joking,” he said. ‘But, yeah, it turns out it was Britney Spears,’ he said.
‘I didn’t see what happened, because I was walking straight and we were told, ‘Don’t stop’. 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.
Making her move: Spears is seen tapping the basketball player on the left side
Point of contact: The guard is then seen backhanding her – either hitting in the face or causing her hand to fly into her face, with the star crying out and her glasses knocked off the impact
Quite the scene: The singer is immediately swarmed by her loved ones in the wake of the slap
Upset: After the slap, an upset Britney is heard calling out in a British accent: ‘That’s America for you. F*** you all!’
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 – but the video disproves this
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
Moment: Britney was pictured moments before being ‘slapped 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
Violent eruption: Wembanyama is seen on Wednesday shortly before the incident with his security guard
Spears rejected his version of events, and claimed the ‘grab’ was actually a ‘simple tap on the shoulder’.
The popstar was said to have approached Wembanyama to meet him before making his NBA debut, but her attempts to get a picture saw the security guard allegedly strike her while trying to defend the star.
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.
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
Britney is seen in a dancing Instagram video posted last month
‘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.
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.’
Big debut: This comes ahead of Wembenyama’s (pictured in San Antonio last week) highly-anticipated debut which is set to take place at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Friday evening
Spears and Asghari married in June 2022 after six years of dating.
This comes ahead of Wembenyama’s highly-anticipated debut which is set to take place at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Friday evening.
The Frenchman will be leading his new team the San Antonio Spurs in a match-up against the Charlotte Hornets.
Wembenyama has been touted as possibly the greatest prospect in two decades since LeBron James.
Last season he played with French professional basketball club Metropolitans 92 in the LNB Pro A which is the highest-tier in French basketball.
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