Former Bodyguards Speak Up

Ex-Bodyguards to celebrities and other public figures seem to have a lot to say these days. As soon as someone famous has a breakdown, commits a crime or dies tragically, it is only a matter of time before a former bodyguard decides to weigh in on the controversy. This is not a new development, however. Bodyguards have been spilling it for as long as people cared to listen. Adolf Hitler's bodyguard, Rochus Misch has shared his experiences for a movie based on them.

More recently, Hollywood's wild girls have been making waves and landing in trouble left and right. Linsey Lohan's ex-bodyguard Lee Weaver is set to publish a tell-all book about his experiences with the star through his two year employment. As details have been publicized, the book will discuss his views on Linsey's partying and drug use, among other things. In retribution to the betrayal, Lohan placed her former bodyguard's phone number on her Myspace page.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is having a few difficulties with his bodyguards speaking up against him as well. In this case, however, one particular bodyguard testified in court about the mayor's indiscretions and abuse of taxpayers' money. The former bodyguard openly admitted to accompanying Mayor Kilpatrick to secret rendezvous with various women. He states that he felt unsafe being aware of the indiscretions.

Some former bodyguards are being pushed to discuss their clients' lives whether they want to or not. In a very public custody battle over the couple's children, Kevin Federline has had Britney Spears's former bodyguard subpoenaed. Daimon Shippen, who served as Britney's bodyguard / nanny and rumored boyfriend will likely be forced to testify in the custody battle for Kevin and Britney's two children. Potential topics include observations as to Britney's capabilities to be a mother. Undoubtedly her drug and alcohol use will be brought up as well.

Long after the Kobe Bryant controversy has been played out, tempers are still flaring over the occurrences of the controversy. Kobe's former bodyguard Patrick Graber accuses the basketball player's legal defense team of a frame job to take attention away from their client during the trial. In an effort to get back at Kobe, Graber is poised to release Dead Women Tell No Tales: The Truth about the Kobe Bryant Rape Case. Reportedly, Graber will allege in the book that Kobe approached him about eliminating the witness for the prosecution.

Why do so many celebrities find themselves in situations where those people they trusted the most have betrayed them? It could be any number of reasons, but you can be sure that greed plays a role in almost all of the situations. Bodyguards don't make nearly as much money as the celebrities they are paid to protect, and it is only a matter of time before someone jots the right amount down on a piece of paper to get these bodyguards to start talking. It would seem that celebrities would wise up and require confidentiality agreements with all of their staff, including bodyguards, upon employment. Perhaps with fame comes the feeling of almighty power and the belief that you are indestructible and no one will ever turn on you.