Add one more to the list. It seems that another disgruntled bodyguard, Leonard Taylor Mark Wahlberg’s former bodyguard is planning to write a tell-all book about his experiences.
Taylor told the New York Daily News that he feels “used” by various former clients. “Why should I respect their privacy when they don’t care about me?” he told the paper.
Taylor, who describes himself as a 6-foot-5, 320-pound “gentle giant,” developed relationships with Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, Paris and Nicky Hilton, “Entourage” actor Kevin Connolly, and Sudbury’s own Chris Evans.
But he’s particularly bitter about Wahlberg, whom he claims “filled my head with dreams and then kicked me to the curb.”
Transitioned from club bouncer to bodyguard when R&B artist Ray J hired him in 1995, Taylor claims he spent more than three years protecting (and partying) with Wahlberg, but he “didn’t pay me a dime.”
A call and email to the actor’s rep was not returned. After years of protecting celebrities, the down-on-his-luck bodyguard says he’s ready to expose them in a tell-all book.
Taylor says that, with the exception of Willis, his famous former clients and friends abandoned him when he battled drug addiction, depression and homelessness from 2004-05 and, more recently, from 2008-11. “I did a lot for a lot of people,” says Taylor, who adds that he’s sober and working security for nightclubs again.
“I saved people’s lives and then when I was down on my luck, everyone turned their backs on me.”
He claims Wahlberg promised to take care of him as a member of his original “Entourage” just as the actor’s breakout performance in “Boogie Nights” made him a movie star. Their relationship ended in 2001 when the two got into a headlines-making fight outside a downtown Manhattan club.
Taylor, who’s African-American, claims Wahlberg started the scrap when he directed a racially insensitive remark at him. He eventually sued Wahlberg, who he alleges bit him during the scuffle, but dropped the legal action because, he says, “I genuinely like Mark.” One of Taylor’s last high-profile clients was Thurman, who he famously rescued from a stalled elevator in 2006.
After the incident, Taylor says the “Kill Bill” star “was the nicest person in the world for 24 hours” but then “went back to being nasty and cold.”
Her attitude “just sucked the life out of me,” he says. Taylor declined to reveal the name of his co-writer but says they’re “90% done” with the manuscript and will shop it upon completion.
This is just the sh*% sinking to the bottom. Like “DOC” said, we hate to hear about a fellow BG in trouble or losing his job for bad reasons and those of us whom have extensive time on this protection thing we do have seen many good guys go down for no reason or maybe even a stupid “mistake”. None of his actions are mistakes because he did everything wrong from the time he took the (non-paying for 3 years?) gig. He was not trained at how to dress properly as a child and that was evident in seeing him. So, without making this comment a name calling escapade, which I am very good at, I will stop with if the guy can’t dress himself he can’t do the job.
This does not surprise any of us does it? Seriously, I have seen him around here and there for years, never on the same client and mostly never on an A-List celeb as the main PSO. He was not ever qualified to do any of this from the start or else these things would not happen. Smoking a blunt and/or banging a dancer is not a topic that is discussed in many classes and does not come with a number if tactics to choose from…like the story he told about his loss of happiness and drug use and how clients had issues with this series of problems, all of this is mostly a lie built on a lie which started somewhere with him lying about his potential as a whole and accepting said positions. and his credibility was blown on the first “one of those job’s that blows” he received by someone involved with the principals entourage.
In addition, and the biggest issue with this story I have is his time on gigs. His references to big name clients after the mention of whom it was that took him from bouncer to BG are funny. He went from bouncer to a bouncer that is mobile. First off, he was not on Mark during the total time claimed in his many statements and he did not do OCONUS travel in the late 90’s because he wasn’t allowed to leave a certain states border. Without dropping names (too much) I know a professional that worked MW and the info I have from him (he looks a lot like me) is solid on the status of who was involved in MW’s protection in the late 90’ s -2000’s.
Using the name Willis by him in an out-loud voice is an example of a poor choice in whose name to drop and give credit to for sticking by him. Anyone who knows anything about the industry as it applies to entertainment side knows that Mr. Willis has utilized the same firm since he got his first gig acting. In fact, BW’s PSO is responsible for many other professionals getting into “Hollywood” security at the top tier levels and this includes me! and a few others on this board that have been working theses details on the top talent for years.
This is where I stop and erase the rest of my response because it can be pretty ugly when I go on a rant about someone whose actions hurts us professionals big time and that’s not even getting into the overall safety the clients did not have during his time being a poorly dressed poorly spoken doorman with a 8-Ball and a blunt in his baggy jeans and oversized shirts…..
Final comment about being friends with your VIPs.
I do enjoy the fact that I do count some of my VIPs as personal
friends.
When I work with them, when we are not ‘on’, we are hanging out as friends. With a certain level of awareness maintained at all times.
BUT, when it is time to work, that relationship changes dramatically.
There is another aspect that I am constantly aware of and that is becoming familiar with repeat VIPs. Although one might have a great rapport with a VIP and the handling client, one should never forget that under these circumstances, these people are NOT your friends, even if they might appear to be so on the surface.
It is a fine line and, if you are smart, you should be able to know the difference.
…(sorry, my foot slipped)
with a client, but have enjoyed some hilarious moments with them.
I also have learned some very interesting personal information about many of them, having spent time in their presence, but I wouldn’t dream of telling Anybody about that.
We are privy to So much information and it is assumed that, as Security Professionals, we would never publish that.
I am looking forward to my Old Age (God willing), when my relatives will sigh at my fits of giggles, assuming I’m losing it when I will probably be simply recalling the fun I have had in this crazy industry!
I don’t know the guy, but by the sounds of things, he wasn’t exactly ‘part of the gang’ in terms of professional conduct.
Writing a Tell-All book normally is the kiss of death to a professional’s career. An anonymous memoir is literally another story.
I have an excellent relationship with most, if not all of my VIPs and clients and enjoy the time we spend together in our down time.
I have never partayed
For starters, these are the types of things that make it hard enough for those of us who strive to earn a living in this field the right way. Secondly, these are the types of things that will hopefully persuade more celebrities and people of such status to seek out true professionals for their protection. Those who have paid their dues will benefit from news like this spreading through the circle of those who acquire protection specialists regularly, because the need for it will never go away. If anyone who checks into this forum regularly hasn’t, please refer to the article published a while back that was about Bodyguarding Celebrities Won’t Make You A Star. These are exactly the kinds of things that he overlooked. Partying with the Client is what lead to his demise of being taken for a “Buddyguard” and not a Bodyguard. I really hope this guy gets his life together just as a person, I just feel that writing a book about clients isn’t the way to do it.
By the way Mr. Taylor I am talking from expieriance, I handle some very public figures in my time on the line. Names that are very recognizable even today and all their Secrets from those days are still very Safe.”AND NO I WAS’NT THEIR FRIEND,OR PAL I was their Protection from everything and still am . Thanks,rick
Mr. Taylor> You should respect their Privacy for one simple reason. “THATS WHAT YOU WERE PAID TO DO” You were not hired for them to like You or to be their Friend,You were their for a Job maybe Your Privacy should be made Public (how many people would You offend)???? think about that !!!!
First off I do feel sorry for a Brother Bodyguard down-on-his-luck. We all have had setbacks personally and professionally and hopefully learned from those mistakes. However, that’s where the pity ends. It appears that this former bodyguard took his relationship with clients personally and not professionally. Mistake number one. Not being paid at dime for your bodyguard services, that’s on you my friend. Where was the formal contract, the amount to be paid for professional services and the method of paid? Mistake number two.
Okay, so you’ve made a few bad mistakes. Your bodyguarding people for free, acting like these people are your friends, your partying with these people every night and of course these are paying your alcohol tab because you are broke. Is it any wonder you got into a battle with drug addiction, depression, homelessness, hardships and trials?
You’re not getting paid my friend; you are drinking and doing recreational drugs on duty. Why do you feel your clients owe you anything? What value did you present to them other than being a large intoxicated groupie? Accept your responsibility that you screwed up as a bodyguard. Get some professional training; take a course in small business.
If you change yourself, your career will change for the better. Learn from these bad experiences as a first-time bodyguard and make it a good experience the second time around. But don’t write a “tell-all” book. Your failure will be unavoidable. You will be looked at as tattle tale, a rat, a snitch; a person who informs on the misdeeds of others. You will never get respect in the bodyguard industry again. The book you are planning to write is something of little value. Your honor is priceless. Heed the warning my friend. Good luck and God speed.
This is precisely the image of a “Bodyguard” that we have been battling as professionals. This guy is an amatuer wannabe protection specialist. However, there are lessons to be learned for those who are thinking of this profession or who are new in this profession. First and foremost no matter what profession you choose PROFESSIONALISM is the key to success especially in our profession. It is also the key to longevity. Your client only owes you the paycheck under the terms you have agreed to, for the work you have agreed to perform. Second, you must remember most clients don’t hire you because you are a fan and no professional seeks the job because they are a fan. If you do you set yourself up to fail. You get hired because of your Professionalism, Integrity, Knowledge and Experience; because they feel you are trustworthy enough to allow you to see them in all situations without the fear of you exposing it to the rest of the world. The third lesson is that nothing can replace professional training for there is where you learn the skills and aquire the knowledge for a solid foundation to build a professional career on. It is also where you will begin to associate yourself with true professionals who can pass on to you the lessons they have learned and show you by example the Integrity required to succeed in this Profession. Without that training you will only be another amatuer clown like this one. Remember he who speaks or brags about who they’ve protected and what their clients have done or how they act will only diminish themselves. It is easier to succeed without name recognition than being recognized as untrustworthy and unreliable.
This guy, was a club bouncer. That on its own tells a lot. Roles like club bouncer, do not require the training and intellect that is required and needed to be an Executive Protection Specialist.
He was hired by Ray J in 95. How old was Ray J then?
It’s sad that when I’m working event security, and have to sit in a security meeting w/ the artists security personnel, they stumble on answering simple questions, but when they stand up, these guys are enormous. I then see why they were hired.
We the professionals, need to continue educating the industry and the clients as to what the difference is between an EP specialist, as oppose to what a bodyguard/bouncer is. The greatest asset that we possess is our brains.
This clown isnt a bodyguard….he’s a bozo with no skills, zero professionalism, and an entitled attitude. Working in LA I see a lot of folks in the RnB industry relying on their buddies from the block for security and its sad. No training, no discipline and more often then not no licensing. All lawsuits waiting to happen. Celebrities are becoming much better informed about this sort of thing here and luckily we’re seeing less of it with mainstream stars. We actually had to go after one poser (a well known fraudster) who was posting pics of our clients on his webpage and claiming he worked for them.
Amazing he feels the client must look after him.
I don’t agree with the fact that this Taylor is doing this book. This sort of behavior is not called being professional in fact I could not agree more with you guys. This hurts all of us in this field cause the client will start wondering about if we can keep a secret. This field is hard enough without having someone like this in this field it’s unethical.
Well, I can’t agree with the “Tell All” BG’s promote, but one thing is for certain. There’s noone wanting to help you in this field, except take your money and pat you on the back, wishing you good luck> Whats that all about. Wheres the professionalism in this business?
Awhile back I wrote an article called Celebrity Bodyguards need discretion. The main point of the article was, protection specialists need to have discretion. Discretion being the skill of keeping secrets, and not disclosing information to people who should not know.
There are several principles that govern our industry; client confidentiality is very high on the list. This line work requires some very specific character traits, honor being a key one.
My guess is, like many other celebrity protectors that have shared information about their clients, this individual will have a tough time finding work in Hollywood again.
All true professionals in this industry have an obligation to never ever share information about their client. No matter what the circumstances are!
“his famous former clients and friends abandoned him when he battled drug addiction, depression and homelessness from 2004-05 and, more recently, from 2008-11”
First off, a client is a client, and not a friend. It is a professional relationship where you are paid to perform a service. What ever happend to “professional distance”? Be polite, be professional, but don’t confuse a professional relationship with a friendship.
Secondly, drug addiction and depression and homelessness does not give the impression of any degree of professionalism. It sounds like he created his own issues, and when he was no longer an asset and able to fill the requirements of his job, his employer no longer supported him. Same as it would be in any other job field. No need to whine about it, and publish some “tell all” book in order to bad mouth a client or celebrity just to make money and “get back” at them. Thats what grocery store mag rags are for.
This just sounds like another guy who got too close and personal and confused being a paid professional with being a personal friend, and who got all butt hurt when he was no longer needed and now wants to capitalize on it. Well, he wont be getting a dime from me for his book.
WOW! He spent time protecting (and partying) with his client? And I’m sure he was always on his A game when he was “partying” huh? Some of these guys working details set a piss poor example of what our job really is. IT’S ABOUT PROTECTING THE CLIENTS WELL BEING NOT PARTYING WITH THEM AND WRITING TELL ALL BOOKS BECAUSE YOU FEEL BETRAYED…This guys will be bouncing for the rest of his life!
Fully unprofessional… We don’t do EP and waiting our client “care about us”. … We are here to care about their security, their “well being” and they pay us for that…
Partying with the client, I guess that says it all. By the way, since when did that become part of the job description.