Britney Spears has thanked fans and local authorities for “the tremendous amounts of love and support” after a disturbing incident in which she claims she was hit in the face in a Las Vegas hotel.

The singer said the incident had been “super embarrassing” but she wanted to share it to “urge people in the public eye to set an example and treat all people with respect”.

Spears was allegedly assaulted on Wednesday (US time) by a security guard after approaching French basketball star Victor Wembanyama in a Las Vegas hotel.

Posting online following the incident, Spears said she was on the way to dinner when she recognised Wembanyama and went to “congratulate him on his success”.

In her statement, she claimed she had “tapped” Wembanyama on the shoulder to get his attention before being “backhanded” in the face.

Wembanyama, who plays in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs, said he thought he had been grabbed from behind as he was walking into a restaurant. His security detail pushed the person away, and Wembanyama, 19, said he did not even realise for some hours that it was Spears.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed it had been called to a report of an assault on Wednesday night at Las Vegas Boulevard.

It said the incident had been documented in a police report, but no arrest or citations had been issued. Spears confirmed she filed the report.

“This story is super-embarrassing to share with the world but it’s out there already,” Spears wrote.

“However, I think it’s important to share this story and to urge people in the public eye to set an example and treat all people with respect.

“I cherish the tremendous amounts of love and support I am receiving at the moment.

“Thank you to the Las Vegas PD and the detectives for their support.”

Wembanyama, the top pick in this year’s NBA draft, told US broadcasters on Thursday a person had “grabbed” him “from behind” while he was in a crowded hall.

“I just know the security pushed her away,” he

“I don’t know with how much force … and I didn’t stop to look.

“I kept walking to enjoy the nice dinner.”

Wembanyama said he did not think the incident was a “big deal” and only found out that Spears was involved when he returned to his hotel room.

“It turns out it was Britney Spears but I didn’t know,” he said.

“I never saw her face.”

Spears denies grabbing Wembanyama, saying she “simply tapped him on the shoulder”.

[“His security] backhanded me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd. Nearly knocking me down and causing my glasses off my face,” she said.

“I have yet to get a public apology from the player, his security or their organisation. I hope they will.”

Spears was in Las Vegas with her husband Sam Asghari.

“I am opposed to violence in any form, especially without justification in the defence of yourself or someone else who is unable to defend themselves,” Asghari wrote in a statement posted on his Instagram story.

“Self-defence can be unavoidable, but the defence of any woman, especially my wife, is not debatable.”

– with AAP