Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 overall selection of the 2023 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs and one of the most hyped prospects in the sport’s history, is already engulfed in an off-court scandal despite having yet to play a single game.
TMZ broke the news that a member of Wembanyama’s security team backhand slapped pop star Britney Spears in the face Wednesday night in Las Vegas when she sought a photograph with the basketball star. TMZ has since obtained photographs of the incident.
Spears broke her silence on the incident Thursday evening.
“Traumatic experiences are not new to me, and I have had my fair share of them,” Spears wrote in a statement posted to Twitter.
“I was not prepared for what happened to me last night. I recognized an athlete in my hotel lobby as I was heading to dinner. I later went to a restaurant at a different hotel and saw him again. 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. I am aware of the player’s statement where he mentions ‘I grabbed him from behind,’ but I simply tapped him on the shoulder. His security then backhanded me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd. Nearly knocking me down and causing my glasses off my face.”
https://twitter.com/britneyspears/status/1677073259869900800
Spears went on to note that she’s dealt with adoring fans for decades and her security team never handled the situation in a similar fashion.
“I get swarmed by people all the time. In fact, that night. I was swarmed by a group of at least 20 fans. My security team didn’t hit any of them.”
TMZ reported that “Vegas police brass” met “face-to-face” with Spears about the investigation into this incident. Charges have yet to be filed.
