Behind the Scenes: Life as Whitney Houston's Bodyguard

Behind the Scenes: Life as Whitney Houston's Bodyguard

According to his former bodyguard, there was a time when his sentiments for Whitney Houston weren't entirely professional.

Former police officer David Roberts, who was largely based on the 1992 film The Bodyguard, talked about his time defending the legendary singer, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 48 from a heroin overdose, in an interview with the Daily Mail that was published on Friday, Dec. 27.

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What led Whitney Houston's bodyguard to consider giving up everything?

What led Whitney Houston's bodyguard to consider giving up everything

Before his biography Protecting Whitney, which is scheduled for release in January 2025, the Welsh-born Roberts, who was Houston's bodyguard from 1988 to 1995, spoke with the site.

  • Although the 73-year-old Roberts said that Houston's safety was always his top worry, he admitted that one night when the celebrity put her head on his shoulder, he felt compelled to "give up everything" in order to alter their relationship.
  • She and I actually lived through a lot of what was in the movie," Roberts added. Small things like Rachel clinging on the back of his shirt to get away from throngs of admirers. We accomplished that.
  • She placed it beneath the door of my room at the Regency Hotel in Hong Kong in 1988, and it was [on] a Post-it note. Even if it has somewhat faded with time, I still treasure it," he remarked.
  • The six-time Grammy winner, who was only 23 when they first met, faced many significant security threats while dating her, the former police officer told the Daily Mail.

He remembered, "They were mainly [threats from] men who felt disappointed, resentful, and deceived." It was a continuous program that looked for these delusional, mentally ill madmen wherever they could be. Some moron who was desperate to get her just needed to succeed once, so I had to get it perfect every time.

"I distanced myself from her and those dangers. Do you wish to speak with Whitney? "Try it out and see what happens," he added.

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Roberts said that there was a "thin line" between a dangerous individual with a "crazed" obsession from an apparently innocuous enthusiast. "A fan might become a killer if you allow them to get past your defenses, no matter how benign they may appear. He told the newspaper, "The golden rule is to never lose sight of your principal and to never allow anyone to get close to her."

Roberts claimed in a 2017 interview with The Guardian that he was first hesitant to accept the role of Houston's protector because he thought she would be a high-maintenance professional. But when he finally saw the singer in person, his preconceptions about her were completely debunked.

Whitney Houston

She left a lasting impression on me. He recalled that Houston was also friendly and humorous, adding, "This sophisticated young lady completely dissipated the stereotypical attitudes I had of that industry."

At the time, Roberts also told The Guardian that he was still upset about Houston's death in 2012. "There were several ways that individuals might have prevented that. They didn't. "They chose greed over accountability," he stated.

Roberts claimed in a 2017 interview with The Guardian that he was first hesitant to accept the role of Houston's protector because he thought she would be a high-maintenance professional. But when he finally saw the singer in person, his preconceptions about her were completely debunked.

She left a lasting impression on me. He recalled that Houston was also friendly and humorous, adding, "This sophisticated young lady completely dissipated the stereotypical attitudes I had of that industry."

3 Lessons from Whitney Houston's Bodyguard Experience

  • At the time, Roberts also told The Guardian that he was still upset about Houston's death in 2012. "There were several ways that individuals might have prevented that. They didn't. "They chose greed over accountability," he stated.
  • According to a close family member who spoke to PEOPLE in 2016, the singer, who is known as "The Voice" because to her extraordinary skill, first started using narcotics as a coping mechanism for the demands of celebrity.
  • "I believe it was a tremendous weight for her to be unable to be herself completely. On the exterior, someone could appear powerful and robust. However, the family friend stated, "On the inside, you have someone who had insecurities, family issues, and emotional personal issues and struggles.

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FAQs

Did Whitney Houston make I Will Always Love You for The Bodyguard?

Did Whitney Houston make I Will Always Love You for The Bodyguard

A new version of "I Will Always Love You" was recorded by American singer and actress Whitney Houston in 1992 for the soundtrack of her first motion picture, The Bodyguard. Music critics praised Houston's rendition of "I Will Always Love You" widely, and it is now considered one of her "signature" songs.

When did Whitney Houston come out?

Whitney Houston and her ascent to global stardom, 1985–86. Whitney Houston was released on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1985, following more than a year of sessions. The album would reach the top 10 of the chart in its 23rd week after making its debut at number 166 on the Billboard 200 during the week of March 30, 1985.

Did Whitney Houston really sing in The Bodyguard?

Music critics gave The Bodyguard high marks for both its production and Houston's singing performance.

What happened to Whitney Houston before she died?

Houston passed away in a bathtub at a hotel in Beverly Hills in February 2012, just before Davis's pre-Grammy celebration. According to a coroner's report published in March, heart disease and cocaine usage were identified as contributory cause, although unintentional drowning was the cause of death.