After claiming that she was punched in the face outside a Las Vegas restaurant by a member of a famous NBA player's security detail as she attempted to greet Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, singer Britney Spears begged for an apology on Thursday.
Spears did not specifically mention Wembanyama in her tweet about the meeting, but she did make reference to the player's public remarks to reporters earlier in the day. Spears, 41, claimed that on Wednesday night she had spotted "an athlete" at two different hotels and "decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success" at the second, which was in front of a restaurant. Spears claimed that after she touched his shoulder, one of his security personnel "back handed me in the face," breaking her glasses and nearly sending her to the ground.
On Thursday, numerous efforts for comment from the Spurs went unanswered. An email seeking comment from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received no response. The person who answered the phone at the department's public records office stated that they were unable to comment on a specific case and that a response to a records request may take between three and five days.
The Las Vegas police confirmed in statements to several news organisations, including Variety and People, that around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, "officers responded to a property in the 3700 block of Las Vegas Boulevard regarding a battery investigation," but that no arrests or citations had been issued. TMZ broke the news of the incident on Thursday morning. Spears' attorney, Mathew S. Rosengart, declined to comment further after Spears' remark and stated the Las Vegas police were conducting an investigation.
Wembanyama provided a different account of what happened earlier on Thursday, before Spears' tweet, while speaking with reporters in Las Vegas. Although he claimed that "there was one person calling me," Spurs security had instructed him not to stop because doing so might have attracted a mob. He continued by claiming that someone had "grabbed me from behind, not on my shoulder."
Wembanyama said, "I don't know with how much force, but security pushed her away," adding that he did not recognise the lady as Spears until many hours later. I continued on my way without stopping to look, so I could enjoy a lovely supper.
According to Spears, she was "not prepared for what happened" and that it would be "super embarrassing" to talk about it in public.
But she said, "I think it's important to share this story and to encourage people in the public to set an example and treat all people with respect."
