This Britney Spears, Victor Wembanyama Controversy Is Giving Big ‘Karen’ Energy
Source: Getty Images / Getty
On Wednesday, an incident happened in Las Vegas between No. 1 NBA draft pick Victor Wembanyama and pop star Britney Spears. But there are conflicting stories about what happened.
According to Spears, she spotted Wembanyama at the Aria Hotel, tapped him on the shoulder to ask him for a photo and a member of his security team backhanded her and kept walking without so much as looking back at her. Wembanyama said he never really saw her (or knew who she was), but she grabbed him from behind and his security guard “pushed her away.” Spears, who filed a police report behind the incident, according to Yahoo Sports, insists that it was a tap, not a grab, and a slap, not a push.
“Traumatic experiences are not new to me and I have had my fair share of them,” Spears wrote in a statement. “I was not prepared for what happened to me last night. recognized an athlete in my hotel lobby as I was heading to dinner. I later went to a restaurant at a different hotel and saw him again. 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. I am aware of the player’s statement where he mentions “I grabbed him from behind” but I simply tapped him on the shoulder. 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.”
— Britney Spears (@britneyspears) July 6, 2023
NBA Rookie Victor Wembanyama addresses reports that Spurs security allegedly slapped Britney Spears when she approached him at a Las Vegas restaurant.
“That person grabbed from behind, not by my shoulders.” pic.twitter.com/YzpmFgoNBs
— No Jumper (@nojumper) July 7, 2023
“Something did happen, a little bit when I was walking with some security from the team to some restaurant,” Wembanyama recalled during an interview. “We were in the hall. There was a lot of people, so people calling me, obviously. There was one person who was calling me, but we talked before with the security.
“I couldn’t stop. That person was calling me, ‘sir, sir,’ and that person grabbed me from behind,” he continued. “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. I don’t know with how much force, but security pushed her away. I didn’t stop to look so I could walk in and enjoy the nice dinner.”
Then there’s an alleged eyewitness to the altercation whose version of the story that’s at least slightly different from Spears, the Sanantonio Spurs rookie and, apparently, one law enforcement source.
From TMZ:
Brian Grajales, a Canadian who was outside Catch restaurant Wednesday night says he saw Britney approach Victor’s entourage, clearly wanting to take a photo with him.
Brian says she “infiltrated” her way into his circle, leaned in, and in a British accent, said, “Excuse me, sir … excuse me, sir.” She then touched Victor’s back, and that’s when he says the head of Victor’s security backhanded her right in the face.
One law enforcement source told TMZ, the security guy hit Britney’s hand and her hand then hit her face, but Brian squarely disputes that. He says the security guy struck her. Brian says Britney’s sunglasses flew off, but he doesn’t recall if she fell, but there was a lot of commotion. He says Victor walked into the restaurant, and, in a British accent, Britney screamed, “This is f**king America!!!”
Eyewitness says Britney Spears was in fact “slapped across the face” by Damian Smith, the Director of Team Security for the Spurs.
She approached Victor Wembanyama and his entourage and said “excuse me sir,” most likely to ask for a photo. pic.twitter.com/g9u8pacLRk
— Fan Account (@breatheonmiley) July 6, 2023
So, listen: I realize that to many people, this story is going to look like a clear incident of violence against women—and maybe that’s what it is. There are just too many versions of the story to know what’s what. But, as a Black man, I must say this situation is giving me big Karen vibes.
First of all, I’m always going to be wary about any story that ends with a white person shouting “This is America!” (I’m also just really confused about the British accent Spears was allegedly using. Wembanyama is French. And even if he wasn’t, faking an accent when approaching someone with an accent is some weird white American nonsense nobody but weird white Americans seem to find amusing.) Secondly, even if you consider all versions of the story, it looks like a white woman insisted on getting a Black man’s attention, touches him from behind when she doesn’t get it, got dealt with by security the way overzealous fans get dealt with sometimes (I have a hard time believing her fans have never been on the receiving end of this treatment by her security team) and now she’s demanding an apology from Wembanyama, who doesn’t even appear to have any idea what all went down after he was allegedly grabbed.
1) No person deserves to be grabbed or smacked. Use your voice, not your hands.
2) That said: Britney Spears:
"Hit me baby one more time"
[Physically grabs Victor Wembanyama to get his attention, gets slapped by his security guard]
Security Guard: "As you wish"
— Howard . (@HowardA_AtLaw) July 7, 2023
“Physical violence is happening too much in this world,” Spears’ statement continued. “Often behind closed doors. I stand with all the victims and my heart goes out to all of you!!! have yet to get a public apology from the player, his security or their organization.”
Of course, according to Yahoo, the accused security director, Damian Smith, did apologize to Spears hours after the incident, and she accepted his apology.
But, whatever, maybe I’m wrong. Spears’ fans on Twitter certainly would disagree with me.
You better release a statement apologizing to Britney Spears, Victor Wembanyama
No one, not you, not your f*cking security has the right to treat ppl like that.
Disgusting!#JusticeForBritney pic.twitter.com/erprYSOl6u— ivirzg (@ivirzg) July 6, 2023
Retweet if you think Britney Spears could beat Victor Wembanyama in 1:1 pic.twitter.com/VP7XSwK6PH
— Britney Stan (@BritneyTheStan) July 6, 2023
But even Britney’s supporters are giving me Karen vibes as so many of them appear to be approaching this situation with a “He’s a big Black guy, she’s a little demur white woman” attitude.
This is Victor Wembanyama, 7’4”, next to regular height people, who claims Britney grabbed him by the shoulder, causing the *Director* of the @spurs Team Security to “defend” him from Britney Spears, 5’3”. He said he had a fun night. #JusticeForBritney pic.twitter.com/NNivhQPGrD
— Dizz #JusticeForBritney (@ThisIsMeDizz) July 6, 2023
Please show me how Britney Spears (5’4”) was able to grab Victor Wembanyama (7’5”) by the shoulder. Gonna need the Bones lady to plug it into her computer simulator because I can’t picture it.
— sarah kelly (@thesarahkelly) July 7, 2023
Victor Wembanyama is over 7 feet tall. What is Britney Spears going to do to him? Respect Britney Spears. https://t.co/Ufsl2I8Kg0
— Looking for Wonderland. (@Schoollover) July 7, 2023
Other people on Twitter, as usual, had jokes.
Victor Wembanyama security team when Britney Spears touched him#VictorWembanyama #BritneySpears pic.twitter.com/wFgLeIktz5
— J_1neofakindnoocap (@1_ofakindnocap) July 7, 2023
Victor Wembanyama’s security when Britney Spears got too close pic.twitter.com/egiECSpnkq
— Gorilla Press Radio (@gprcast) July 6, 2023
Britney Spears: “It’s Britney bitch”
Victor Wembanyama: pic.twitter.com/c54SggflTh
— extremely depressed Lakers Fan (@oprahsideclark) July 6, 2023
Britney Spears heading to “tap Victor Wembanyama on the shoulder.” pic.twitter.com/syRd4NOYsJ
— Jancey (@joeyancey_) July 7, 2023
Anyway, the Metro PD is reportedly conducting a criminal investigation, into the incident and investigators told TMZ the case will “likely” be sent to the D.A. for review. So, maybe we’ll find out what actually happened. Or maybe we won’t. I guess all we can do is stay tuned.
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