A former bodyguard of Whitney Houston has disclosed that there was a moment when his feelings for the singer extended beyond a professional relationship.
David Roberts, a former police officer and the inspiration for the character in the 1992 film The Bodyguard, shared his experiences protecting the legendary singer in an interview with the Daily Mail published on December 27. Houston tragically passed away from a drug overdose in 2012 at the age of 48.
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During his time as Houston’s bodyguard from 1988 to 1995, Roberts, now 73, emphasized that her safety was always his top priority. However, he recounted an evening when the singer rested her head on his shoulder, which made him consider “giving up everything” to transform their relationship.
Roberts remarked, “If you cross that line, you lose your objectivity, and that makes it dangerous for the person you’re protecting.” He explained that this theme mirrored the relationship in the film, where Kevin Costner’s character, Frank Farmer, could not be with Houston’s character, Rachel Marron, after crossing professional boundaries.
“That was why Frank and Rachel couldn’t be together — he crossed the line, and that was the end of him in the capacity of what he was employed to do.” He added that many elements of the movie reflected their real-life experiences.
“Much of what was contained in the film, she and I actually lived through,” he noted, recalling specific details like Rachel holding onto the back of Farmer’s shirt to pass through crowds, which was a technique they often used.
Currently residing in Florida, Roberts revealed that he treasures a note written to him by Houston over 35 years ago. “It was on a Post-it note and she pushed it under the door of my room at the Regency Hotel in Hong Kong in 1988. I still have it — it’s rather faded with time but still precious to me,” he explained.
During their time together, the six-time Grammy winner, who was just 23 when they first met, faced numerous serious security threats. Roberts recounted, “They were mostly threats from men who felt let down, embittered, and cheated.”
He described the constant vigilance required to monitor potentially dangerous individuals, stating, “I had to get it right 100 percent of the time — some idiot determined to get hold of her only has to be successful once.”
He expressed his commitment to protecting Houston, asserting, “I put myself between her and those threats. ‘You want to get to Whitney? Go ahead and try, see what happens.’”
Roberts acknowledged the difficulty in distinguishing between a harmless fan and someone with a dangerous obsession. “If you let any fan, however seemingly innocent, get through your guard, they could turn out to be a killer,” he warned.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on her safety: “The golden rule is never lose sight of your principal and never let anyone get close to her.” Reflecting on his initial reluctance to accept the job, Roberts previously told The Guardian in 2017 that he anticipated Houston would be difficult to work with due to industry stereotypes.
However, his assumptions changed upon meeting her. “I was singularly impressed by her. The stereotypical attitudes I had of that industry were completely dissipated by this sophisticated young lady,” he stated, recalling her humor and warmth.
During the same interview, he expressed ongoing anger regarding Houston’s death in 2012. “So many people could have done so much to avoid that. They didn’t. They abdicated responsibility in favor of greed,” he lamented.
Houston battled substance abuse for much of her adult life and underwent multiple rehab treatments. A close family friend revealed to PEOPLE in 2016 that the singer, often referred to as “The Voice” due to her remarkable talent, initially resorted to drugs as a coping mechanism for the pressures of fame.
“I think not being able to be herself 100 percent was a hell of a burden for her to have to carry. Someone may look good on the outside, sturdy and strong… [but] on the inside, you have someone who had insecurities and family issues and emotional personal issues and struggles,” the family friend noted.
