Stars collided literally and figuratively in Las Vegas last week. Pop star Britney Spears has filed a police report against NBA player Victor Wembanyama’s security team after an alleged assault that occurred when she approached the rookie phenom to say hello.
On Monday’s show, top attorneys Mark Eiglarsh and Arthur Aidala joined Megyn for a Kelly’s Court to discuss the incident and analyze whether or not Spears has a case.
What Happened in Vegas?
Spears was at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas with her husband Sam Asghari when she apparently spotted Wembanyama walking through the hotel. Security footage captured the pop star approaching the number one draft pick from behind and reaching out her hand in an effort to get his attention.
The video seems to show a member of Wembanyama’s security detail fending her off just as she was making contact with the Spurs center. According to Spears’ police report, she was “backhanded” in the face with such force that it almost caused her to fall over. Wembanyama is seen barely glancing over his shoulder while continuing on his way, seemingly unaware of what had just transpired behind him.
There have been conflicting reports from both parties about what transpired. It was reported that the security guard in question met and apologized to Spears after realizing it was her. She is said to have accepted the apology in the moment but then chose to report the incident anyway.
For her part, Spears has been vocal about the situation via social media. “It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention,” she wrote, in part, on Instagram. “I am aware of the player’s statement where he mentions ‘I grabbed him from behind,’ but I simply tapped him on the shoulder.”
Does Britney Spears Have a Case?
So, does Spears have a case against Wembanyama and/or his team? Eiglarsh was quick to dismiss it. “The bouncer simply defended his client, making sure that no unwanted touching would continue,” he said. “I don’t think that criminal charges are appropriate.” He also pointed out that the singer put her hands on Wembanyama without permission, which could itself be grounds for charges.
After seeing the video footage, Aidala said the case sounded better on paper than it looked on camera. “From a legal point of view, [there is] an extreme lack of intent,” he noted. “His intent… seems to be just to block her hand away from the guy who he’s supposed to be guarding.”
In Megyn’s view, the situation is unfortunate all around. “[Spears] had no malintent,” she said. On social media, Spears noted that she has a better idea of the type of fandom the 7-foot-4 Frenchman experiences than most. “I get swarmed by people all the time. In fact, that night, I was swarmed by at least 20 fans,” she wrote. “My security team didn’t hit any of them.” To that point, Megyn said culture has become too reactive. “What’s with the instinct to lay a hand on another,” she asked, “It was overly aggressive.”
After a brief investigation, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department concluded that no charges will be filed in the case, but there are still civil avenues that could be pursued for the ‘humiliation’ Spears experienced. While it is a possibility, Aidala noted that it would be tough to determine what the associated damages would be.
You can check out Megyn’s full Kelly’s Court with Aidala and Eiglarsh by tuning in to episode 588 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.