Victor Wembanyama has spoken publicly about the incident when one of his security guards slapped Britney Spears.

“We were in the hall. There was a lot of people, so people were calling [at] me, obviously. There was one person who was calling me but we talked before with security,” he told ESPN on Thursday. 

He claims that when he was walking Spears was calling his name and “grabbed” him rather than tapping him on the shoulder.

“I didn’t see what happened because I was walking straight and didn’t stop. That person grabbed me from behind — not on my shoulder — she grabbed me from behind. I just know the security pushed her away.”

Wembanyama asserted that she was only “pushed” away, but Spears maintained that she was actually slapped so hard that the glasses fell off her face. 

He did not stop after the incident and kept going, “so he could walk in and enjoy a nice dinner.”

Wembanyama claims he was not aware that the fan was Spears until Thursday. 

He added, “I didn’t know for a couple of hours, but when I came back to the hotel … I thought it was no big deal, and then the security of the Spurs told me it was Britney Spears.”

The incident happened on Wednesday night when Spears was at dinner with her husband, Sam Asghari. She spotted Wembanyama and went up to him to ask him for a photo. It is unclear whether she tapped or grabbed him from behind as there are two different versions of the story being told. 

Spears released her own statement on her Instagram sharing that, “Traumatic experiences are not new to me and I have had my fair share of them. I was not prepared for what happened to me last night.”

She detailed her account of the incident saying, “I decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success. It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. His security then backhanded me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd. Nearly knocking me down and causing my glasses off my face.”

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“I am aware of the player’s statement where he mentions “I grabbed him from behind” but I simply tapped him on the shoulder,” she added. “I have yet to get a public apology from the player, his security or their organization. I hope they will…”

She ended the statement by sending her regards to victims of physical violence. “Physical violence is happening too much in this world. Often behind closed doors. I stand with all the victims and my heart goes out to all of you!!!”

Asghari released a similar statement on his Instagram story stating, “Self-defense can be unavoidable, but the defense of any woman, especially my wife, is not debatable. I consider my reaction subdued considering what occurred, and I hope the man in question learns a lesson and changes his disregard for women.”

He continued to praise Spears for her kind treatment of fans, comparing it to Wembanyama, “Celebrities are only celebrities because of the people and fans. She has never in 25 years of true superstardom treated anyone with disrespect. This is how you treat people.”

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