Pop star Britney Spears has made a public statement unveiling a distressing incident wherein she claims to have been slapped by a bodyguard. The incident reportedly took place in Las Vegas as the singer sought to take a photo with NBA player Victor Wembanyama, during which his bodyguard slapped Britney Spears.
In an Instagram Stories post on July 6, Spears addressed the alleged incident and described it as a traumatic experience. She explained that she recognized Wembanyama in the hotel lobby on her way to dinner, and later saw him again at a different hotel while at a restaurant. The bodyguard slapped Britney Spears in the face without looking back, causing her glasses to fall off.
The singer acknowledged that being surrounded by fans is not uncommon for her, but she emphasized that her security team never resorts to physical violence in similar situations. Spears deemed the incident embarrassing but felt it was important to share her story and urge those in the public eye to set an example by treating all people with respect. She also expressed her solidarity with all victims of physical violence, calling for an end to such behavior.
Spears concluded her statement by requesting a public apology from Victor Wembanyama and his team. She expressed gratitude for the support she has received, including that of the Las Vegas Police Department and the detectives involved in the case.
On the other hand, Victor Wembanyama spoke out in response to the incident, stating that he did not witness the alleged assault. He explained that someone had been calling him, but he was advised to continue and engage with fans to avoid creating a crowd. Wembanyama said that the person grabbed him from behind without him seeing who it was. Only later, when he returned to the hotel and was informed by the Spurs’ security team, he learned it was Britney Spears. He claimed never to have seen her face and continued walking straight.
Sam Asghari, Britney Spears’s husband, also started Instagram Stories to defend his wife. Given the circumstances, Asghari expressed his opposition to violence and noted that his reaction was subdued. He hoped the man involved would learn a valuable lesson and change his disregard for women, thanking those who supported Britney.
Asghari emphasized that the blame for the incident should fall on the security guard, the people responsible for hiring him without proper vetting, and the culture of disregard for women within sports and entertainment. He called for changes, stating that they must come from the top.
Following the alleged incident in which the Wembanyama‘s bodyguard slapped Britney Spears, she filed a police report. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that officers responded to the incident and documented it in a police report. As of now, no arrests or citations have been issued.
Reps for Britney Spears, Sam Asghari, and Victor Wembanyama have yet to respond to requests for comment.
It is important to note that these are allegations, and the investigation is ongoing.
From what I understand knowing the Past Director of Team Security for the Spurs, the “Bodyguard” is actually a member of the team security (possibly the new team security manager) who is not trained in executive protection. The previous manager said that the incident was totally avoidable and the action of the security person was totally unnecessary and an over reaction.