No charges to be filed in altercation between Britney Spears and NBA player’s guard
No charges will be filed following a brief investigation of the altercation involving pop star Britney Spears, San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama and a member of the basketball player’s security team, Las Vegas police said on Friday.
Spears said she was struck by a security guard as she tried to approach Wembanyama on the way into a restaurant in a Las Vegas casino complex on Wednesday night. Wembanyama said a person – he later was told it was Spears – grabbed him from behind.
Spears filed a police report, alleging battery. The Las Vegas metro police department said its investigation is over and “no charges will be filed against the person involved”.
Police said on Friday that surveillance video shows Spears inadvertently hit herself in the face after her hand was pushed off Wembanyama.
A video clip published by celebrity news and gossip site TMZ is not conclusive. The singer can be seen from behind reaching towards the basketball player’s back and then appearing to have her arm knocked back sharply and forcefully by a third party.
Spears confirmed on Thursday that she filed a police report after what she called an “embarrassing” incident at the Aria hotel. She said she’d wanted to congratulate the sportsman.
She said that she approached Wembanyama to ask for a photo and tapped him on his shoulder because it was “really loud” at the venue.
She also said that she was hopeful of getting an apology from the team or the security guard who she said was involved.
Wembanyama, for his part, said security advised him to not stop for anyone as he walked into the restaurant, mindful that pausing could cause a stir and attract a crowd. He recalled someone shouting to him and his being grabbed.