Lindsay Lohan’s former bodyguard Andrae ‘Doc’ Renard’ has filed a libel law suit against the Star magazine. Renard is alleging he was misidentified as Lee Weaver, another of Lohan’s former bodyguards, in a photo caption. It was Weaver, not Renard, who witnessed the drugs, guns, wild sex and the cutting. It was Weaver who disclosed this personal information to tabloids during Lohan’s darkest moments. Renard is claiming his career has been “irreparably damaged because of the “libelous use of his photograph.”
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If Renard has truly suffered the loss of employment because of this defamation of character, then he has every right to seek retribution. However, one cannot help but wonder if it isn’t another case of someone using a mistake (or misprint, in this case) for personal financial gain. The real dilemma for all of us in this profession, is that one of the most essential elements of the bodyguard-celebrity relationship has been compromised: Trust.
Bodyguards are not paid to judge the client’s lifestyle. They are paid (and extremely well) to ensure the safety of the celebrity. No doubt, working for young stars who are making extremely unwise and unhealthy choices has got to be worrisome, and frankly, makes the job far more difficult. The chances of a client changing behavior are slim to none. It presents a real moral dilemma for a bodyguard: Does he ask parents to intervene and risk losing his job? Keep quiet and keep taking a paycheck? Quit?
The one thing I am sure of however, is that a bodyguard running his mouth to the tabloids for a quick and lucrative payday is unprofessional and damaging to the profession.
I must agree with these comments. If you remember there was an incident in NYC that hit the Tabloids and the news about Lindsey Lohan breaking her Wrist. I personally was the one who Picked her up off the floor. Those Pics and the True Story never hit the press and I am still working. Why jeopardize my career for a moment in the tabloids.
SBM1