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Protecting Whitney: The Memoir of Her Bodyguard
David Roberts was Whitney Houston's bodyguard, the real one.
Roberts was hired in 1988 for Houston's UK portion of the Moment of Truth world tour. Accustomed to working for diplomats and Fortune 500 clients, Roberts had reservations about working with a pop star. But Houston's heart of gold won him over from the moment they met at Heathrow airport.
There's a high bar for those who work in this you must be willing to die for your boss. Houston made that easy. Roberts got to travel the globe with one of the most fun-loving and generous souls he'd ever met. His memoir reveals heartwarming anecdotes of life with one of the world's most recognizable stars, including privately shared moments such as the birth of Bobbi Kristina.
But there are also shocking and heartbreaking revelations. Roberts was present for some of Houston's most challenging ordeals. And he was helpless as he watched those who claimed to love and support her look the other way because they saw her voice box as a cash machine.
His heart was ultimately shattered as he witnessed her succumb to the one threat he could not protect her herself.
Roberts was hired in 1988 for Houston's UK portion of the Moment of Truth world tour. Accustomed to working for diplomats and Fortune 500 clients, Roberts had reservations about working with a pop star. But Houston's heart of gold won him over from the moment they met at Heathrow airport.
There's a high bar for those who work in this you must be willing to die for your boss. Houston made that easy. Roberts got to travel the globe with one of the most fun-loving and generous souls he'd ever met. His memoir reveals heartwarming anecdotes of life with one of the world's most recognizable stars, including privately shared moments such as the birth of Bobbi Kristina.
But there are also shocking and heartbreaking revelations. Roberts was present for some of Houston's most challenging ordeals. And he was helpless as he watched those who claimed to love and support her look the other way because they saw her voice box as a cash machine.
His heart was ultimately shattered as he witnessed her succumb to the one threat he could not protect her herself.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published January 28, 2025
23 people are currently reading
3496 people want to read
About the author
David Roberts
1 book9 followersDavid Roberts served in the Royal Air Force Police, became a police-trained sniper, and served as a sergeant on the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department of the Metropolitan Police at New Scotland Yard. He was a professional bodyguard for twenty-five years. Roberts continues his work as a management consultant in security and investigations and remains active in the field of risk management and loss prevention. He lives in Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
January 2, 2025
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Protecting Whitney is the memoir of Whitney Houstons real-life bodyguard (or as he calls himself her CPO - Close Protection Officer) David Roberts.
David was hired as Whitneys bodyguard in the 1990s when Whitney was starting her European tour. The book details much of what went on in the industry, the people in Whitneys life and entourage and behaviours of those close to her. From his memoir, it seems he was a very trusted, reliable, and efficient protector and didn't let the stardom around him deflect what he was there to do - protect her at all costs. It was quite sad in parts such as the confidance from Whitneys doctor in relation to what the drugs were doing to her and her voice and the spiral of Whitneys downfall. He brings much to the table within this book and makes you question what those in power in her life were prepared to do and cover up to keep on bankrolling this vulnerable woman. Thank you so much, David, for sharing this with all of us who loved this woman and her voice so much. It must have been a huge decision to bring this out into the public.
Protecting Whitney is the memoir of Whitney Houstons real-life bodyguard (or as he calls himself her CPO - Close Protection Officer) David Roberts.
David was hired as Whitneys bodyguard in the 1990s when Whitney was starting her European tour. The book details much of what went on in the industry, the people in Whitneys life and entourage and behaviours of those close to her. From his memoir, it seems he was a very trusted, reliable, and efficient protector and didn't let the stardom around him deflect what he was there to do - protect her at all costs. It was quite sad in parts such as the confidance from Whitneys doctor in relation to what the drugs were doing to her and her voice and the spiral of Whitneys downfall. He brings much to the table within this book and makes you question what those in power in her life were prepared to do and cover up to keep on bankrolling this vulnerable woman. Thank you so much, David, for sharing this with all of us who loved this woman and her voice so much. It must have been a huge decision to bring this out into the public.
February 25, 2025
As someone who deeply admires Whitney Houston—not just for her voice, but for the feeling she brought to her music—this book was both eye-opening and heartbreaking. David Roberts, her former bodyguard, gives a firsthand account of the struggles she faced behind the scenes, the people who failed her, and the harsh reality of fame. It’s a sobering look at how even the most extraordinary talents can be surrounded by the wrong influences.
More than just a biography, Protecting Whitney is a cautionary tale about loyalty, self-destruction, and the industry’s darker side. But above all, it reminds us that Whitney was human first—a woman who deserved more protection than she got.
I shared my full thoughts—including my biggest takeaways from the book and a personal reflection on seeing Whitney live in 1987—on my BookTube channel. Watch HERE
More than just a biography, Protecting Whitney is a cautionary tale about loyalty, self-destruction, and the industry’s darker side. But above all, it reminds us that Whitney was human first—a woman who deserved more protection than she got.
I shared my full thoughts—including my biggest takeaways from the book and a personal reflection on seeing Whitney live in 1987—on my BookTube channel. Watch HERE
February 27, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Roberts' admiration for Whitney is evident, and some of the personal stories are touching, showing her generosity, warmth, and humor.
Ultimately, this memoir serves as a bittersweet tribute to Whitney..celebrating her joy but also mourning her struggles. However, for readers already familiar with her story, it may not add much beyond another perspective on the tragedy of her life.
🎶 I Wanna Dance with Somebody
🎶Love Will Save the Day
🎶 Run to You
🎶 I Will Always Love You
Roberts' admiration for Whitney is evident, and some of the personal stories are touching, showing her generosity, warmth, and humor.
Ultimately, this memoir serves as a bittersweet tribute to Whitney..celebrating her joy but also mourning her struggles. However, for readers already familiar with her story, it may not add much beyond another perspective on the tragedy of her life.
🎶 I Wanna Dance with Somebody
🎶Love Will Save the Day
🎶 Run to You
🎶 I Will Always Love You
October 13, 2025
I really haven't read anything on Whitney Houston, but her music has been in my life since elementary school and her self titled album was my first music purchase. The Bodyguard soundtrack and movie are some of my go tos. While she died too soon it was difficult watching her downward spiral. Then hearing Bobby Brown saying she is the one that introduced drug into his life was a bit questionable. Roberts really doesn't gain anything but some money from book sales. He didn't reveal any sensational details, but he too documents her downward spiral and when he realized there was nothing he could do he left after 7 and 1/2 years. We get a look at the threats she faced - external and internal to her life along with her talent and the person that he remembers.
How did this book find me? It came up as a suggest Audible purchase and I found it on Hoopla.
How did this book find me? It came up as a suggest Audible purchase and I found it on Hoopla.
February 8, 2025
4✨ Books about people who are no longer with us are often difficult for me to read. However, when I had the chance to pick up this one, I couldn’t resist. The book treated Whitney with kindness and respect, and it was clear that David genuinely cared for her and wanted the best for her. As he shared personal moments with Whitney, I could truly feel his pain and, in turn, gained a deeper understanding of her. She was an extraordinary artist, but more than that, she was a woman let down by those who were supposed to protect her and prioritize her well-being. While the book was short and easy to read, it did have a somewhat dry tone.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
February 18, 2025
5 Stars!!! Such a heartbreaking story about David's love and dedication for Whitney's safety and wellbeing and how those closest to her failed her. A beautiful story and tribute to Whitney. Thank you Dreamscape Media and David Roberts for the audiobook ARC.
November 10, 2024
Excited to receive this book, I read it immediately. An interesting and exciting, even exhilarating life, for both protected and protector. Ultimately though, this is a sad tale…for both the protected and the protector. What a minefield David had to navigate, how very stressful, and in the end so untenable and unsafe.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley.
I am writing a voluntary, honest review.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley.
I am writing a voluntary, honest review.
February 8, 2025
Whitney Houston was pop phenomenon, larger than life and had a voice that was known around the globe. However, for David Roberts she was "boss" and a genuine person.
David Roberts was Whitney's bodyguard, the real one, from 1988 to 1995. He was there from her UK tour, to the filming of The Bodyguard, to the birth of Bobbi Kristina. Before accepting this job, he had to listen to her music because he didn't know who she was. David writes from a place of love for Whitney the human and not the pop singer. The book follows Whitney's career while David was her Chief Protection Officer, but he also shows us that when she wasn't in the spotlight, she was like a normal kid. It was clear throughout the memoir he truly admired Whitney.
Their relationship was founded on trust and mutual respect, standing in contrast to the individuals in her inner circle who appeared more interested in profit than in genuine care for her. You can sense his pain after all these years that he couldn't save her.
I really appreciated the story behind the song "I Will Always Love You"; it definitely brought tears to my eyes.
David also shared a little of himself in the book, about his failed marriages, and his daughters health issues. It was genuine, unfiltered, and sincere.
I highly recommend listening to this memoir; it truly captures the emotions the author intended to convey.
I received an audiobook ARC via Net Galley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.
David Roberts was Whitney's bodyguard, the real one, from 1988 to 1995. He was there from her UK tour, to the filming of The Bodyguard, to the birth of Bobbi Kristina. Before accepting this job, he had to listen to her music because he didn't know who she was. David writes from a place of love for Whitney the human and not the pop singer. The book follows Whitney's career while David was her Chief Protection Officer, but he also shows us that when she wasn't in the spotlight, she was like a normal kid. It was clear throughout the memoir he truly admired Whitney.
Their relationship was founded on trust and mutual respect, standing in contrast to the individuals in her inner circle who appeared more interested in profit than in genuine care for her. You can sense his pain after all these years that he couldn't save her.
I really appreciated the story behind the song "I Will Always Love You"; it definitely brought tears to my eyes.
David also shared a little of himself in the book, about his failed marriages, and his daughters health issues. It was genuine, unfiltered, and sincere.
I highly recommend listening to this memoir; it truly captures the emotions the author intended to convey.
I received an audiobook ARC via Net Galley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.
February 19, 2025
After seeing this on several anticipated release lists, I was happy to get a copy of the audiobook! Of course, I know about Whitney Houston. I even shared a last name with her until I got married!
Being a 90's kid, I didn't know a bunch about Whitney's early career, but I knew of her tragic ending. I wanted to learn a bit more about her from someone close to her.
The book is not narrated by the author but by Gildart Jackson. His voice reminded me of Michael Caine. And I have to say, some of the female voices really threw me off. I think I would've enjoyed the book better as an ebook.
The photo on the cover is very sweet. It was refreshing to hear from someone that seemed to be selfless when it came to Whitney. So many seemed to take and take. I wish we could still have her around. And I wonder what her life would be like if she had never come in contact with drugs.
Thank you to NetGalley, David Roberts, Gildart Jackson and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read Protecting Whitney. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly.
Being a 90's kid, I didn't know a bunch about Whitney's early career, but I knew of her tragic ending. I wanted to learn a bit more about her from someone close to her.
The book is not narrated by the author but by Gildart Jackson. His voice reminded me of Michael Caine. And I have to say, some of the female voices really threw me off. I think I would've enjoyed the book better as an ebook.
The photo on the cover is very sweet. It was refreshing to hear from someone that seemed to be selfless when it came to Whitney. So many seemed to take and take. I wish we could still have her around. And I wonder what her life would be like if she had never come in contact with drugs.
Thank you to NetGalley, David Roberts, Gildart Jackson and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read Protecting Whitney. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly.
February 26, 2025
As a lifelong Whitney Houston fan and someone who loves The Bodyguard, I knew I had to get my hands on this book—the real-life account from her actual bodyguard, David Roberts. I opted for the audiobook, which took a moment to adjust to due to the narrator’s thick accent, but once I settled in, I really enjoyed this one. Hearing firsthand what it was like to protect a global superstar in the ‘80s and ‘90s—pre-social media, pre-paparazzi frenzy as we know it—was fascinating. There’s no doubt that Roberts was deeply devoted to Whitney, spending decades ensuring her safety. However, if you're looking for shocking new revelations, this book doesn’t necessarily deliver. Instead, it revisits well-known moments from her life, but through his perspective. That said, as a Whitney fan, I still found it an engaging (and ultimately heartbreaking) read. Her story remains tragic, and hearing it from someone who was in her inner circle only reinforces that. Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the advanced readers copy!
February 26, 2025
I absolutely loved this book or audiobook. It did take me a minute to get used to the narrators voice but beyond that I was enthralled. I have been a huge fan of Whitney Houston for as long as I can remember and this book made me love her even more. It was so interesting to see and hear about this side of things. I would have never thought about how big celebrities like Whitney and other artists probably do have body guards and they spend their entire careers with and the things they see, hear and do. It was very interesting and I was hooked and could not stop listening. It made me hate Bobby even more than I already did lol and I was almost in tears at the end knowing what was coming and sadness of it all. She would have been a lifelong star and could have done amazing things. Its so sad her life was cut as short as it was.
February 4, 2025
3.5 stars
In Protecting Whitney, former bodyguard David Roberts offers a firsthand account of his years safeguarding Whitney Houston—not just from external dangers, but also from the people closest to her and, ultimately, from herself. His deep care for her is evident as he recounts the emotional toll of witnessing her struggles with fame, addiction, and personal demons. The memoir sheds light on how those in her inner circle prioritized their own interests, allowing her downward spiral to continue unchecked. Featuring behind-the-scenes stories and lesser-known details, the book provides a sobering glimpse into the darker side of celebrity. While the narration can feel a bit dry at times, it remains a compelling and revealing read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
In Protecting Whitney, former bodyguard David Roberts offers a firsthand account of his years safeguarding Whitney Houston—not just from external dangers, but also from the people closest to her and, ultimately, from herself. His deep care for her is evident as he recounts the emotional toll of witnessing her struggles with fame, addiction, and personal demons. The memoir sheds light on how those in her inner circle prioritized their own interests, allowing her downward spiral to continue unchecked. Featuring behind-the-scenes stories and lesser-known details, the book provides a sobering glimpse into the darker side of celebrity. While the narration can feel a bit dry at times, it remains a compelling and revealing read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 28, 2025
What an honor to experience and support Whitney as her bodyguard was able to through formative and detrimental parts of her life. Sadly, the worst of times ended up causing his exit but his reflection of her is done beautifully.
Whitney’s story mirrors so many like Marilyn and many celebrities we see today like Britney. It’s hard to wrap your head around how severely good people can get wrapped in addiction but I suppose it feels just as complicated for the addict to walk away from that scene.
I especially liked the earlier memories and moments of her. She was popular in my household growing up and as a teen, I loved her music and films and it still breaks my heart that someone of such talent was destroyed the way she was, as with here daughter. I’m glad this novel allows us to relive and enjoy some of her greatest moments in her career.
Whitney’s story mirrors so many like Marilyn and many celebrities we see today like Britney. It’s hard to wrap your head around how severely good people can get wrapped in addiction but I suppose it feels just as complicated for the addict to walk away from that scene.
I especially liked the earlier memories and moments of her. She was popular in my household growing up and as a teen, I loved her music and films and it still breaks my heart that someone of such talent was destroyed the way she was, as with here daughter. I’m glad this novel allows us to relive and enjoy some of her greatest moments in her career.
February 15, 2025
I listened to the audiobook ARC of Protecting Whitney by David Roberts thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media. This memoir introduced us to Whitney Houston’s long time bodyguard and gave us a glimpse in the rise and fall of one of America’s best talents. It was heartbreaking to hear how Whitney’s inner circle took advantage of her and contributed to her eventual death. David seemed to truly love her and care about her well being more than just the money she was bringing in. The narrator had an excellent accent and made the audiobook quite enjoyable.
February 18, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook to review! I’ve always been interested in Whitney Houston and her career and life so when I saw that her bodyguard had a memoir I really wanted to hear his perspective on her life. Listening to this book was interesting , it was kinda like tea about her close family and friends and also accounts of him stopping strange people from harming Whitney. I think that if you’re at all interested in Whitney this is an interesting perspective to read about!
July 12, 2025
We all knew Bobby Brown was bad for Whitney but never to that extent.
This book démonstrates from a bodyguard’s point of view all the safety issues related to a célébrity. David Roberts was Houston’s personal bodyguard from 1988 to 1995, including touring overseas.
As we are not surprised by anything surrounding drugs, it confirms how her entourage contributed to her downfall and éventual death.
The author sometimes alludes to having personal feelings for what he calls his principal but never confirms it directly.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a complimentary e-arc copy in exchange for my honest review.d
This book démonstrates from a bodyguard’s point of view all the safety issues related to a célébrity. David Roberts was Houston’s personal bodyguard from 1988 to 1995, including touring overseas.
As we are not surprised by anything surrounding drugs, it confirms how her entourage contributed to her downfall and éventual death.
The author sometimes alludes to having personal feelings for what he calls his principal but never confirms it directly.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a complimentary e-arc copy in exchange for my honest review.d
April 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this listen. It did take on a revisionist history feel, but many memoirs do when they are focused on a third party. As a nostalgic 90’s kid born in the late 80’s some of my earliest memories are of jamming to Whitney ballads in the back of our van. I enjoyed the journey, but you should know it is absolutely tragic and devastating.
That shouldn’t come as a surprise.
That shouldn’t come as a surprise.
February 13, 2025
Protecting Whitney The Memoir of Her Bodyguard by David Roberts
Audio Version
Overall Grade: A
Information: A
Writing/Organization: A
Narration: A
Best Aspect: Very telling, raw, and honest. Heartbreaking. I cried at the end.
Worst Aspect: I wanted more stories.
Recommend: Yes.
Audio Version
Overall Grade: A
Information: A
Writing/Organization: A
Narration: A
Best Aspect: Very telling, raw, and honest. Heartbreaking. I cried at the end.
Worst Aspect: I wanted more stories.
Recommend: Yes.
January 31, 2025
Thanks for the advance copy
This was a beautiful book and was so well written.
The narration was a little dry but the story made up for it.
Only reason why I didn’t give it 5 stars
This was a beautiful book and was so well written.
The narration was a little dry but the story made up for it.
Only reason why I didn’t give it 5 stars
February 4, 2025
3.5 rounded up
January 2, 2025
This is a memoir written by Whitney Houston's bodyguard, David Roberts. It is very clear that David cared for Whitney immensely and tried desperately to not only save her from the threat of strangers, but also from her family and friends and ultimately herself. The memoir shows the emotional toll that David had to endure watching Whitney succumb to fame, addiction and her internal struggles. There is quite a bit of gossip and stories not widely known that show how those she surrounded herself did nothing to stop the dangerous path Whitney was on because she was making them money. Tragic.
December 2, 2024
I got this from Netgalley, so I can read and review it before it's published. So, David Roberts was indeed her bodyguard or as he calls it, her CPO (close protection officer) during the 1990's with this stint starting during her European tour. He got to be up close and personal with Whitney, her entourage, Bobby Brown, and their daughter Bobbi Kristina. It was a lot of work and coordination with a bunch of people as well as staking out venues before-hand to see what needed to be implemented.
He didn't get to be her bodyguard while she was filming The Bodyguard, but did for Waiting to Exhale. He did witness the beginning of the end with her drug abuse, and the higher-ups in Whitney's company basically tried to hide it so they could keep on making money!
He tells a lot of interesting stories from the trenches of being a bodyguard for Whitney and I really enjoyed it.
He didn't get to be her bodyguard while she was filming The Bodyguard, but did for Waiting to Exhale. He did witness the beginning of the end with her drug abuse, and the higher-ups in Whitney's company basically tried to hide it so they could keep on making money!
He tells a lot of interesting stories from the trenches of being a bodyguard for Whitney and I really enjoyed it.
May 28, 2025
An incredible behind the scenes look at such a preventable tragedy. There are so many different forms of love, and what David felt for Whitney was a unique one.
Thank you Librofm for this preview.
Thank you Librofm for this preview.
February 20, 2025
Let me start by saying that although I really wanted to read this one, I also hesitated...as I was a big Whitney Houston fan and was so sad to hear of her tragic passing. Wasn’t sure I wanted to delve into the sadness again…
Then, when I saw that her BODYGUARD wrote a memoir about her... well... The Bodyguard... The movie! I was totally intrigued...
It DID, in turns, have me hysterically laughing, and then the next moment, hysterically crying...
David, the bodyguard, gives a firsthand experience of meeting her, not wanting to work with her, eventually giving in, and then finding that she was one of the nicest, sweetest, kindest people he had ever worked for... and he would have given his life for her in a heartbeat... Just part of the job.
Still, so disheartening to hear... even all these years later... how her family and her friends took advantage of her kindness and kind heart... over and over again.
Seems like the two of them had a very special relationship, pretty much right from the get-go.
And he really PROTECTED her with his life...and his all.
And he literally fell apart once Bobby Brown became an influence in her life...as he felt there was nothing that he could do about it. He mentions over and over that he could protect her from anything... except, herself.
One of the most beautiful lines in the book, in my mind's eye... I think it was after the Superbowl...and it went something like this: 'I thank my Heavenly Father for the gift he has given me, and that he sees in me, even what I don't see in myself...'
And, one of the funniest moments… David riding a horse alongside Whitney! The antics… 🤣🤣
And let me just say, that if you are an emotional person, like I am... when you get to the epilogue... You may want to read/listen to that alone... and bring tissues! I was literally SOBBING. 😢 Just so heart-breaking! All-around...
I'm going with 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this one!! I loved it, but… It just broke me...
#ProtectingWhitney : The Memoir of Her Bodyguard, by #DavidRoberts and narrated beautifully by #GildartJackson.
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an ARC of the audiobook! It has already been released, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!!
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Then, when I saw that her BODYGUARD wrote a memoir about her... well... The Bodyguard... The movie! I was totally intrigued...
It DID, in turns, have me hysterically laughing, and then the next moment, hysterically crying...
David, the bodyguard, gives a firsthand experience of meeting her, not wanting to work with her, eventually giving in, and then finding that she was one of the nicest, sweetest, kindest people he had ever worked for... and he would have given his life for her in a heartbeat... Just part of the job.
Still, so disheartening to hear... even all these years later... how her family and her friends took advantage of her kindness and kind heart... over and over again.
Seems like the two of them had a very special relationship, pretty much right from the get-go.
And he really PROTECTED her with his life...and his all.
And he literally fell apart once Bobby Brown became an influence in her life...as he felt there was nothing that he could do about it. He mentions over and over that he could protect her from anything... except, herself.
One of the most beautiful lines in the book, in my mind's eye... I think it was after the Superbowl...and it went something like this: 'I thank my Heavenly Father for the gift he has given me, and that he sees in me, even what I don't see in myself...'
And, one of the funniest moments… David riding a horse alongside Whitney! The antics… 🤣🤣
And let me just say, that if you are an emotional person, like I am... when you get to the epilogue... You may want to read/listen to that alone... and bring tissues! I was literally SOBBING. 😢 Just so heart-breaking! All-around...
I'm going with 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this one!! I loved it, but… It just broke me...
#ProtectingWhitney : The Memoir of Her Bodyguard, by #DavidRoberts and narrated beautifully by #GildartJackson.
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an ARC of the audiobook! It has already been released, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!!
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
May 4, 2025
★彡[ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴡʜɪᴛɴᴇʏ]彡★
By David Roberts
Blurb
David Roberts was Whitney Houston's bodyguard, the real one.
Roberts was hired in 1988 for Houston's UK portion of the Moment of Truth world tour. Accustomed to working for diplomats and Fortune 500 clients, Roberts had reservations about working with a pop star. But Houston's heart of gold won him over from the moment they met at Heathrow airport.
There's a high bar for those who work in this business: you must be willing to die for your boss. Houston made that easy. Roberts got to travel the globe with one of the most fun-loving and generous souls he'd ever met. His memoir reveals heartwarming anecdotes of life with one of the world's most recognizable stars, including privately shared moments such as the birth of Bobbi Kristina.
Bet there are also shocking and heartbreaking revelations. Roberts was present for some of Houston's most challenging ordeals. And he was helpless as he watched those who claimed to love and support her betray her confidence for their greed.
His heat was ultimately shattered as he witnessed her succumb to the one threat he could not protect her from: herself.
I found this audio book an interesting memoir.
It's good to listen to different perspectives of life, and David's story is his version of events and what he witnessed during his time protecting Whitney Huston throughout her singing career.
It's a clear take on his role as a bodyguard and the seriousness and professionalism that he conducted throughout the years to the best of his ability. It is obvious that David admired and loved Whitney for the talented person that she was.
"She had the voice of an angel'
I enjoyed the film 'The Bodyguard', staring Whitney, back I the 90s, and I couldn't help but picture the film, play out in my mind as I listened to David's words. He's a welshman, too, which I never knew.
Such a sad end to a beautiful life. 💔
⚠️ Trigger - reference to drug taking and death.
By David Roberts
Blurb
David Roberts was Whitney Houston's bodyguard, the real one.
Roberts was hired in 1988 for Houston's UK portion of the Moment of Truth world tour. Accustomed to working for diplomats and Fortune 500 clients, Roberts had reservations about working with a pop star. But Houston's heart of gold won him over from the moment they met at Heathrow airport.
There's a high bar for those who work in this business: you must be willing to die for your boss. Houston made that easy. Roberts got to travel the globe with one of the most fun-loving and generous souls he'd ever met. His memoir reveals heartwarming anecdotes of life with one of the world's most recognizable stars, including privately shared moments such as the birth of Bobbi Kristina.
Bet there are also shocking and heartbreaking revelations. Roberts was present for some of Houston's most challenging ordeals. And he was helpless as he watched those who claimed to love and support her betray her confidence for their greed.
His heat was ultimately shattered as he witnessed her succumb to the one threat he could not protect her from: herself.
I found this audio book an interesting memoir.
It's good to listen to different perspectives of life, and David's story is his version of events and what he witnessed during his time protecting Whitney Huston throughout her singing career.
It's a clear take on his role as a bodyguard and the seriousness and professionalism that he conducted throughout the years to the best of his ability. It is obvious that David admired and loved Whitney for the talented person that she was.
"She had the voice of an angel'
I enjoyed the film 'The Bodyguard', staring Whitney, back I the 90s, and I couldn't help but picture the film, play out in my mind as I listened to David's words. He's a welshman, too, which I never knew.
Such a sad end to a beautiful life. 💔
⚠️ Trigger - reference to drug taking and death.
February 7, 2025
3.5/5 stars.
This is a book about Whitney Houston, written by her bodyguard. It is a story about how everyone around her failed to protect her and used her as a cash machine.
I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I liked the narrator's voice and reading.
I also enjoyed the story itself—the timeline was nicely built, and different interesting anecdotes were described, making the story fit piece by piece, like a puzzle. Sometimes, writing can seem chaotic with stories like these since a lot of different events are patched together, but this book flowed effortlessly.
It's a tragic story. I won't get into analyzing if everything is true or if everything happened exactly the way it was described because I can't judge that. I am only talking about my experience with the book and the story presented.
I was bothered with all the covering of the sexual abuse mentioned in this story, and how nonchalantly it was described, even by the author himself. Like it was just a nuisance in preserving the star and her circle's reputation. These instances appalled me the most.
I also understand that this is just one side of the coin. While the author constantly mentioned how others who tried to do something, didn't do enough, he himself also participated in a lot of enabling activities. People do things for various reasons, and while the author has a lot of explanations for his side, there is none of that extended to others. Ultimately, you can not save someone that doesn't want to save themselves. But that is just my take on it.
Overall, I really did enjoy this audiobook and found it both tragic and informative.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a book about Whitney Houston, written by her bodyguard. It is a story about how everyone around her failed to protect her and used her as a cash machine.
I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I liked the narrator's voice and reading.
I also enjoyed the story itself—the timeline was nicely built, and different interesting anecdotes were described, making the story fit piece by piece, like a puzzle. Sometimes, writing can seem chaotic with stories like these since a lot of different events are patched together, but this book flowed effortlessly.
It's a tragic story. I won't get into analyzing if everything is true or if everything happened exactly the way it was described because I can't judge that. I am only talking about my experience with the book and the story presented.
I was bothered with all the covering of the sexual abuse mentioned in this story, and how nonchalantly it was described, even by the author himself. Like it was just a nuisance in preserving the star and her circle's reputation. These instances appalled me the most.
I also understand that this is just one side of the coin. While the author constantly mentioned how others who tried to do something, didn't do enough, he himself also participated in a lot of enabling activities. People do things for various reasons, and while the author has a lot of explanations for his side, there is none of that extended to others. Ultimately, you can not save someone that doesn't want to save themselves. But that is just my take on it.
Overall, I really did enjoy this audiobook and found it both tragic and informative.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.
Protecting Whitney: The Memoir of Her Bodyguard isn’t just a behind-the-scenes glimpse into stardom—it’s a deeply personal testament to loyalty, loss, and the impossible task of standing guard over a legend. And when narrated by Gildart Jackson, the experience becomes more than a memoir; it’s something between vigil and elegy.
David Roberts doesn’t write with polish—he writes with proximity. What we’re given isn’t a glossy retrospective on Whitney Houston’s rise and fall, but an emotionally raw accounting from a man who didn’t just witness her unraveling—he was tasked with trying to stop it.
Roberts doesn’t claim to have all the answers. What he offers instead is something far more uncomfortable: complicity in the quiet. As the man meant to shield Whitney from physical harm, he grapples with the spiritual wounds no one could guard against—addiction, fame, exploitation, and the crushing loneliness beneath it all.
What elevates this memoir in audiobook form is Gildart Jackson’s narration. His performance resists caricature. There’s a stoic reserve to his tone, echoing Roberts’ own restraint. But in moments—when recalling Whitney’s laughter, her spirals, or the tension between duty and powerlessness—Jackson allows the weight to break through. It’s a subtle, aching delivery, like a man recounting a battlefield with no clear villains and no victorious survivors.
This isn’t tabloid voyeurism. It’s something far more nuanced: a meditation on the moral ambiguity of protection when the harm is internal. Protecting Whitney doesn’t seek to redeem or condemn—it simply tells, and in that telling, it mourns.
Protecting Whitney: The Memoir of Her Bodyguard isn’t just a behind-the-scenes glimpse into stardom—it’s a deeply personal testament to loyalty, loss, and the impossible task of standing guard over a legend. And when narrated by Gildart Jackson, the experience becomes more than a memoir; it’s something between vigil and elegy.
David Roberts doesn’t write with polish—he writes with proximity. What we’re given isn’t a glossy retrospective on Whitney Houston’s rise and fall, but an emotionally raw accounting from a man who didn’t just witness her unraveling—he was tasked with trying to stop it.
Roberts doesn’t claim to have all the answers. What he offers instead is something far more uncomfortable: complicity in the quiet. As the man meant to shield Whitney from physical harm, he grapples with the spiritual wounds no one could guard against—addiction, fame, exploitation, and the crushing loneliness beneath it all.
What elevates this memoir in audiobook form is Gildart Jackson’s narration. His performance resists caricature. There’s a stoic reserve to his tone, echoing Roberts’ own restraint. But in moments—when recalling Whitney’s laughter, her spirals, or the tension between duty and powerlessness—Jackson allows the weight to break through. It’s a subtle, aching delivery, like a man recounting a battlefield with no clear villains and no victorious survivors.
This isn’t tabloid voyeurism. It’s something far more nuanced: a meditation on the moral ambiguity of protection when the harm is internal. Protecting Whitney doesn’t seek to redeem or condemn—it simply tells, and in that telling, it mourns.
July 26, 2025
David Roberts was Whitney Houston's bodyguard, the real one. Roberts was hired in 1988 for Houston's UK portion of the Moment of Truth world tour. Accustomed to working for diplomats and Fortune 500 clients, Roberts had reservations about working with a pop star. But Houston's heart of gold won him over from the moment they met at Heathrow airport. His memoir reveals heartwarming anecdotes of life with one of the world's most recognizable stars, including privately shared moments such as the birth of Bobbi Kristina.
13 years after Whitney’s death, I still hear her songs regularly sung everywhere. Singing competition participants of all generations still unpack, analyse and practice every inflections she designed to produce the same angelic effect. She had a true charisma that nobody else can replicate.
I absolutely loved this memoir. Roberts revealed some behind-the-scene perspectives that were unique, given his role at the time. It was also interesting to see how some real events inspired the script in ‘The Bodyguard’ movie. I can imagine how disorienting it could be for Whitney as the lines between fact and fiction got blurred as well.
The audiobook narration was outstanding in this one. The narrator managed to deliver Roberts’ voice nicely. In some places I even forgot that Roberts didn’t narrate this himself. I’d truly recommend the audiobook to any fan of Whitney Houston.
(Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
13 years after Whitney’s death, I still hear her songs regularly sung everywhere. Singing competition participants of all generations still unpack, analyse and practice every inflections she designed to produce the same angelic effect. She had a true charisma that nobody else can replicate.
I absolutely loved this memoir. Roberts revealed some behind-the-scene perspectives that were unique, given his role at the time. It was also interesting to see how some real events inspired the script in ‘The Bodyguard’ movie. I can imagine how disorienting it could be for Whitney as the lines between fact and fiction got blurred as well.
The audiobook narration was outstanding in this one. The narrator managed to deliver Roberts’ voice nicely. In some places I even forgot that Roberts didn’t narrate this himself. I’d truly recommend the audiobook to any fan of Whitney Houston.
(Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
September 25, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it was hard to put down, in fact. It provided another view and perspective into the life and career of the legend and icon, Whitney Houston. It provides additional details and a viewpoint of events and instances that we've come to know from following Whitney's career -- media, movies, documentaries, books by others, and various interviews. It also provides accounts of events that haven't been mentioned before and some that have been mere whispers and rumors that were short-lived.
It's an easy read that doesn't contain unnecessary language or details; it's fairly chronological so it's easy to follow. It's interesting piecing together information in this book along with recalling what was shared previously and comparing the accounts.
It's also a sad realization once you put into perspective everything that happened in Whitney Houston's life (especially in such a short time-span), so many things at one time, so much pressure and scrutiny, the amount of people (and the people) who exploited and took advantage of her.
This book truly made me embrace that Whitney never really stood an honest chance at survival. Those who a die-hard Whitney Houston fans and those who have followed her career and events in her life are truly the ones who will greatly enjoy this book...as well as those who want an account of events from non-family members who were a part of her entourage.
It's also interesting and eerie to see the great similarity between David Roberts and Frank Farmer (Kevin Kostner's character in The Bodyguard).
It's an easy read that doesn't contain unnecessary language or details; it's fairly chronological so it's easy to follow. It's interesting piecing together information in this book along with recalling what was shared previously and comparing the accounts.
It's also a sad realization once you put into perspective everything that happened in Whitney Houston's life (especially in such a short time-span), so many things at one time, so much pressure and scrutiny, the amount of people (and the people) who exploited and took advantage of her.
This book truly made me embrace that Whitney never really stood an honest chance at survival. Those who a die-hard Whitney Houston fans and those who have followed her career and events in her life are truly the ones who will greatly enjoy this book...as well as those who want an account of events from non-family members who were a part of her entourage.
It's also interesting and eerie to see the great similarity between David Roberts and Frank Farmer (Kevin Kostner's character in The Bodyguard).
February 7, 2025
Kevin Costner may have immortalised The Bodyguard on screen, but David Roberts was the real deal.
In Protecting Whitney, he draws back the curtain to reveal what it truly meant to safeguard a global superstar, offering gripping, behind-the-scenes revelations of his years as Whitney Houston’s Close Protection Officer (CPO).
It’s clear throughout the memoir that he deeply admired Whitney, who he affectionately called Boss not just for her God-given talent but for the person she was beyond the spotlight.
Their bond was built on genuine trust and mutual respect—a stark contrast to many in her inner circle who, like the entourage surrounding Britney Spears, seemed more focused on cashing in than on caring.
A sobering look into the darker side of celebrity, David was prepared to pull a Frank Farmer and take a bullet for Houston throughout his seven years (1988-1995) spent by her side. Thankfully, he never had to, but he was there for the highs and lows, including the birth of her daughter Bobbi Kristina and her initial downfall. You can feel his heartbreak even after all these years that he could not save her from herself.
📚
Narrated by Gildart Jackson, this was my first experience with an audiobook where I felt compelled to adjust the speed to 1.25x. His voice work felt commanding but better suited to the classics.
I received an audiobook ARC via Net Galley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.
In Protecting Whitney, he draws back the curtain to reveal what it truly meant to safeguard a global superstar, offering gripping, behind-the-scenes revelations of his years as Whitney Houston’s Close Protection Officer (CPO).
It’s clear throughout the memoir that he deeply admired Whitney, who he affectionately called Boss not just for her God-given talent but for the person she was beyond the spotlight.
Their bond was built on genuine trust and mutual respect—a stark contrast to many in her inner circle who, like the entourage surrounding Britney Spears, seemed more focused on cashing in than on caring.
A sobering look into the darker side of celebrity, David was prepared to pull a Frank Farmer and take a bullet for Houston throughout his seven years (1988-1995) spent by her side. Thankfully, he never had to, but he was there for the highs and lows, including the birth of her daughter Bobbi Kristina and her initial downfall. You can feel his heartbreak even after all these years that he could not save her from herself.
📚
Narrated by Gildart Jackson, this was my first experience with an audiobook where I felt compelled to adjust the speed to 1.25x. His voice work felt commanding but better suited to the classics.
I received an audiobook ARC via Net Galley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.
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