According to the report, the “… Baby One More Time” singer is a fan of “Wemby” and “went up to him to ask if they could take a picture together.” After tapping his back and right shoulder, Spears was hit, causing her to “fall to the ground” and “take off her glasses,” according to TMZ Sports law enforcement sources.
The report further noted that, according to law enforcement, the responding officers “reviewed security camera footage showing Smith pushing Britney’s hand away” and “then her hand, not Smith’s hand, was struck in the face.” TMZ Sports reported that cops at the scene did not notice the “quickness of the power swing.”
The incident reportedly took place at ARIA Hotel’s Catch restaurant around 8:30 p.m. The 41-year-old Grammy winner, along with her husband and two others, was entering the restaurant when Spears saw Wembanyama.
Early Thursday afternoon, an update to a TMZ Sports report said they had received “contradictory information about the police investigation from a senior Metro PD source.”
“Our source says this is in fact a criminal investigation and they are considering the incident ‘as seriously as a heart attack,'” the report said. The source adds that the case will likely be referred to the DA, although this does not mean that criminal charges will be filed.
The singer who rose to fame with songs like “Oops!… I Did It Again” reportedly “composed herself” after the accident and went to her table.
“We were informed that the security man came to the table and apologized,” the TMZ Sports report added. He said, ‘You understand what it’s like to be swept away by the crowd. He apologized and Britney accepted it. BTW, we’re told he also said when he slapped her he didn’t know who she was.'”
It was reported Thursday morning that Spears’ security team “spent time with Victor’s security man” after which he filed a report with the D.C. Police Department, alleging a beating.
Wembanyama addressed the incident.
“I couldn’t stop,” said Wimpanyama. “That person was calling me, sir, and that person grabbed me from behind.” Associated Press and ESPN. “I didn’t see what happened because I was walking straight and I didn’t stop. This guy grabbed me from behind – not on my shoulder, she grabbed me from behind. I just know security pushed her away. I don’t know how much force but security pushed her away. I didn’t stop to look So I can go in and enjoy a nice dinner.
“I didn’t know for a few hours, but when I got back to the hotel… I thought it was no big deal, and then Spears’ security told me it was Britney Spears,” Wimpanyama said. “At first, I was like, ‘You’re kidding,’ but yeah, it turns out it was Britney Spears. I never saw her face. I kept going straight.”
However, Spears denies taking over Wimpanyama, saying that she “tapped” him on the shoulder, and that securitymen “backstabbed me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd. It almost knocked me to the ground and caused my glasses to fall off my face.”
Wimpanyama and Tottenham are scheduled to play their first league game of the summer at 9 p.m. ET on Friday at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.