Former bodyguard of Whitney Houston, David Roberts, shared a personal story about his time working with the singer during her peak popularity. Over seven years of service, he witnessed not only her triumphs but also deep personal tragedies.
When Roberts first met Whitney at Heathrow Airport, he expected to work with a temperamental star. However, the singer turned out to be quite the opposite. “Whitney was humble, polite, and one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. She was an introvert, which was unexpected,” David recalled.
Houston’s bodyguard role was incredibly challenging. The artist’s fame attracted many unstable fans. Roberts compiled a list of 50 individuals who posed a threat. “One of the most dangerous stalkers was a British military man. He wrote letters claiming that he and Whitney should die together and go to heaven with their imaginary children,” Roberts shared.
He remembered an incident when a well-known stalker managed to get a ticket to her concert. During the performance, the man suddenly stood up, began undressing, and shouted irrational statements. “The famous stalker was in the hall with a ticket. We were watching him, but suddenly he stood up, started taking off his clothes, yelled about Lucifer, and acted irrationally. He was quickly escorted out, and Whitney didn’t even realize what had happened,” the former bodyguard said.
Despite his professionalism, Roberts admitted that he once encountered personal feelings. In 1988, during a tour in Hong Kong, Houston slipped a note under his hotel room door that read: “I will love you always.” He kept it, even though the note faded over time. Roberts emphasized that professional boundaries always remained his priority. “If you cross that line, you lose objectivity, and it’s dangerous for the person you’re protecting,” he stated.
David also recalled the challenges related to Bobby Brown. On their wedding day, he stopped 24 people from trying to enter the premises. Some of them were angry about her choice. He noted that Whitney’s love for Brown was constant, while his feelings often fluctuated. “Her love for Bobby was constant, while his love was changeable. It always ended in tears and forgiveness,” Roberts remarked.
One vivid episode took place in Japan. Just hours before the concert, Brown announced he was flying back to the United States. Whitney was in tears and refused to go on stage. Roberts reminded her that the show must go on. “Whitney was in tears and refused to go on stage, but I reminded her that the show must go on. Eventually, she went out and did it her way: she sang a song dedicated to her daughter, ignoring Bobby, who looked confused,” the bodyguard shared in his memoirs.
Roberts believes that many around Houston betrayed her by turning a blind eye to her problems. “She could have lived longer if someone in her circle had shown care. But Whitney was seen only as a source of income,” he said. In 1995, noticing the deterioration of her condition, Roberts wrote a letter to her lawyers stating that her environment was enabling her drug use. As a result, he lost his job.
In 1992, the film The Bodyguard premiered. The character of Frank Farmer, played by Kevin Costner, was inspired by David Roberts’ professional history and his relationship with one of the most successful performers in music history. Whitney Houston passed away in February 2012.
