Jun 24, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs draft pick Victor Wembanyama speaks at a press conference at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: San Antonio Spurs-Press Conference
(Las Vegas, Nevada) — A member of Victor Wembanyama’s security team is accused of backhand slapping Britney Spears.
The No. 1 overall draft pick of the 2023 NBA Draft — who was in town for the Las Vegas Summer League had an interesting night out to say the least. It came after the pop star asked Wembanyama for a picture in Las Vegas, according to TMZ. The request came at Catch restaurant in the ARIA Hotel in Vegas, where Spears approached the rookie and tapped him on his shoulder.
TMZ reports Spears was backhanded so hard she fell to the ground with her glasses knocked off her face. Damian Smith, the Spurs’ director of team security was identified as the guard. Smith claims to have struck spears because he did not immediately recognize who she was.
Spears later walked back to her table where one of Wembanyama’s security guards apologized.
“You understand how it is when you’re being swarmed by fans.”
Spears apparently accepted the apology but later went to the police to file an incident report for battery.
That original report has since been updated to say the incident isn’t being handled as a criminal matter, as police determined Smith was acting in an official capacity to protect Wembanyama.
