Britney Spears is still speaking out after stating that a member of the San Antonio Spurs’ security squad smacked her after an altercation with player Victor Wembanyama.
Shortly after TMZ published a video of the altercation and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) concluded that no one would be prosecuted, the singer, 41, responded on Instagram with a second post.
Noting that she has “been working in the industry for years and have been with some of the most famous people in the world,” Spears went on to praise *NSYNC, saying that they “were like The Beatles at one point… girls would throw themselves at them everywhere we went.”
“Not one time in my life has a security guard ever hit another person,” she added.
“I’m not sharing this to be a victim,” Spears added. I JUST REALLY GET IT… My expression was priceless… BAD ??? YES … I’ve had films made on me that I didn’t approve of… I’ve felt powerless in most circumstances, and my encounter in Vegas, as well as my reaction, was a scream for assistance on several levels… “I’ll say it.”
The singer went on to say that she has never “been treated as an equal person in this country” and thanked those who assisted her throughout the event.
“When I watched the video myself… the people who actually swarmed around me when they heard me get hit made me feel like I mattered!!!”
“At the time, I wasn’t aware of that… All everyone could hear was me yelling f— you all… which was MUCH BETTER THAN HITTING HIM BACK!!!” said the “Toxic” singer.
Spears then wrote in the caption of her photo that she is “still a tremendous admirer” of Wembanyama, 19, and added, “It’s not his fault his security attacked me… S— occurs!!!”
Spears filed a police report on Thursday after she was reportedly smacked by one of Wembanyama’s security guards the night before. According to the LVMPD, “officers responded” to the location “regarding a battery investigation” at 11 p.m. on Wednesday.
In a statement issued Friday, the police department said it “concluded its investigation of the alleged battery that occurred on July 5, 2023, at 11 p.m., in the 3700 block of Las Vegas Boulevard.”
“No charges will be filed against the person involved,” the LVMPD added.
According to a redacted police report obtained by PEOPLE, the Spurs’ security officer took “his left hand to push Britney’s hand away from the individual” after examining video surveillance from the ARIA hotel. When he pushed Britney’s hand away, he used such force that her hand smacked her face, causing her sunglasses to fall off.”
Wembanyama spoke up about the issue on Thursday in a video released on Twitter by KENS reporter Nate Ryan. “Something did happen a little bit when I was walking to a restaurant with some team security.” “We were in a hall with a lot of people, so obviously people were calling me,” he explained.
The basketball player reported hearing “one person” constantly yell his name, but did not stop despite being advised by security that doing so would result in a big throng forming.
“That person grabbed me from behind,” he explained further. “I didn’t notice anything because I was walking straight and they told me ‘Don’t stop.'” But someone grabbed me from behind, on my shoulder. She grabbed me from behind, and all I remember is that security shoved her away.”
“I’m not sure how much force was used, but security pushed her away,” the athlete continued. I didn’t stop to look, so I continued strolling and had a great meal.” When questioned if he knew if the person attempting to attract his attention was the famous artist, he said he “didn’t know for a couple of hours.”
When Wembanyama arrived back at the hotel, he dismissed the event as “no big deal.” When security informed him that the individual was Britney Spears, he assumed they were joking. “At first, I thought, ‘No, you’re kidding.’ But it turned out to be Britney Spears,” he remarked. “I had no idea because I hadn’t seen her.” I never got to see her face. “All I did was keep walking straight.”
Following his public comment, Spears addressed the event on her social media sites as a “traumatic experience” and stated that she has yet to receive an apology from the basketball player, his team, or his security.
“I recognized an athlete in my hotel lobby as I was heading to dinner,” she remembered. “I later saw him again in a restaurant at a different hotel.” I decided to contact him and express my congratulations on his accomplishment.”
“It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention,” stated Spears. “I am aware of the player’s statement in which he says, ‘I grabbed him from behind,’ but all I did was tap him on the shoulder.” His security then backhanded me in the face in front of a crowd, nearly knocking me down and taking my glasses off my face.”
