By TIM REYNOLDS (AP Basketball Writer)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama mentioned Thursday he believes Britney Spears grabbed him from behind as he was strolling right into a restaurant at a Las Vegas on line casino, and that the safety element he was with pushed the pop star away.
Wembanyama mentioned he wasn’t advised that Spears was the one who grabbed him till hours later.
Spears filed a police report saying she was struck by a safety guard whereas attempting to get the eye of Wembanyama, an individual with data of the matter mentioned Thursday. The individual spoke to The Associated Press on situation of anonymity as a result of the police report had but to be launched publicly.
Spears’ representatives didn’t reply to a request for remark and police officers didn’t instantly return a message searching for extra particulars. Wembanyama mentioned safety suggested him to not cease for anybody as he walked into the restaurant, conscious that pausing may trigger a stir and permit a crowd to construct.
“Something did happen, a little bit, when I was walking with some security from the team to some restaurant,” Wembanyama mentioned. “We had been within the corridor. There was lots of people, so folks had been calling (at) me, clearly. There was one one that was calling me however we talked earlier than with safety.
“I couldn’t stop. That person was calling me, ‘Sir, sir,’ and that person grabbed me from behind,” Wembanyama mentioned. “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 a nice dinner.”
TMZ first reported particulars of the occasion that happened Wednesday night time close to a restaurant on the ARIA lodge and on line casino. TMZ mentioned Spears was in a gaggle of 4 attempting to enter a restaurant for dinner and that she “was swarmed by fans as she entered the casino.” TMZ mentioned she observed Wembanyama and tapped him on the shoulder in an effort to get his consideration; Spears, the positioning mentioned, wound up being struck within the face and having her glasses knocked off.
“I didn’t know for a couple hours, but when I came back to the hotel … I thought it was no big deal, and then security of the Spurs told me it was Britney Spears,” Wembanyama mentioned. “At first, I was like, ‘You’re joking,’ but yeah, it turns out it was Britney Spears. I never saw her face. I just kept walking straight.”
He was unaware that the state of affairs had made headlines till Thursday.
“I saw the news obviously this morning. I woke up to a couple of phone calls,” Wembanyama mentioned.
Wembanyama will make his NBA Summer League debut with the Spurs on Friday night time in Las Vegas in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets. He signed some autographs for followers on the ARIA on Wednesday night time and did the identical for a small variety of onlookers as he entered a neighborhood highschool for observe with the Spurs on Thursday morning.
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AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles and Associated Press Writer Ken Ritter in Las Vegas contributed.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com