Whitney Houston’s legacy as a musical icon is tragically intertwined with her struggles with addiction, a battle vividly portrayed, albeit indirectly, in the hit film The Bodyguard. David Roberts, Houston’s real-life bodyguard for seven years, offers an insider’s perspective on the singer’s life and the forces that ultimately led to her untimely demise. His memoir, Protecting Whitney, paints a picture of a complex woman grappling with immense fame, demanding industry pressures, and a devastating addiction enabled by those around her.
Roberts, a highly trained protection officer with a background in law enforcement and security, initially hesitated to take the job guarding Houston. Unfamiliar with her music and wary of the pop star world, he eventually agreed after hearing her powerful voice and meeting the down-to-earth woman behind the fame. His duties extended beyond protecting her from crazed fans, some of whom were armed and posed credible threats of kidnapping, mirroring the plot of The Bodyguard. He also found himself shielding her from the intrusive nature of fame and the persistent harassment of overzealous fans. One such incident at a Kentucky hotel involved a brawl between Houston’s entourage and autograph hunters, culminating in Houston accidentally striking Roberts with a Heineken bottle aimed at an attacker.
Beyond the physical threats, Roberts witnessed the singer’s vulnerability to manipulative individuals within her inner circle. He describes a music industry that prioritized image over well-being, actively discouraging Houston from seeking rehabilitation for fear of tarnishing her reputation. He expresses profound anger and resentment towards those who facilitated her addiction, believing their actions directly contributed to her death. The memoir details conversations with members of Houston’s team who argued against rehab, emphasizing the perceived damage to her image over her health. This negligence, in Roberts’s view, allowed Houston’s addiction to spiral out of control, ultimately leading to her tragic end in a Beverly Hilton hotel bathtub.
His frustration was amplified by his powerlessness to intervene effectively. Despite his efforts to protect her from external dangers, he was unable to shield her from the insidious influence of the drugs and the enablers who provided them. He recounts the devastating impact of witnessing Houston’s overdoses, including one during the filming of Waiting to Exhale. The decision to prioritize avoiding a media scandal over seeking immediate medical attention further fueled his anger and sense of helplessness. He describes the singer’s debilitating state after an overdose, unable to walk, talk, or even sit up, yet denied proper medical care due to fears of negative publicity. This incident underscores the tragic consequences of prioritizing image over health, a pervasive issue within the entertainment industry.
Roberts’s memoir also touches upon Houston’s personal relationships, offering glimpses into her romantic life and the joys of motherhood. He recalls her excitement about her pregnancy and the joy of witnessing her as a mother to Bobbi Kristina. He briefly mentions rumored romantic interests, including Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy, contrasting them with his disapproval of Bobby Brown, whom Houston eventually married. Brown’s own struggles with addiction and admitted violence towards Houston validated Roberts’s concerns about the relationship’s negative impact on the singer.
The tragic parallels between Houston’s death and her daughter Bobbi Kristina’s passing six years later compound the sense of loss and wasted potential. Both mother and daughter succumbed to drug-related incidents in bathtubs, a chilling reminder of the cyclical nature of addiction and its devastating consequences. Roberts expresses his heartbreak over both deaths, emphasizing the "total waste" of two exceptionally talented individuals. He remembers Houston as a beautiful, genuine, and sophisticated woman who, above all, desired to love and be loved. His memoir serves as a poignant tribute to the singer, highlighting not only her struggles but also her inherent goodness and the tragic loss of a talent silenced too soon. Protecting Whitney is not just a bodyguard’s story; it’s a lament for a life lost to the ravages of addiction and a cautionary tale about the dark side of fame.
