Latest news with #bodyguard
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Diddy's bodyguard Gene Deal clashes with fans outside court over his alleged involvement in Freak Offs
Sean 'Diddy' Combs's former bodyguard had an intense confrontation with fans outside the New York City courthouse about his alleged involvement in Freak Offs. Gene Deal, who protected the disgraced rapper throughout the 1990s, was seen being bombarded by several people on Tuesday - day 10 of the blockbuster trial. As explosive testimonies played out inside the federal courtroom, events outside also got heated after Deal was asked about the drug and sex-fueled Freak Offs Diddy is accused of orchestrating for several years. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO While he appeared to enter the courthouse, Gene stopped in his tracks as a man off-camera shouted at him: 'Hey G, I talked to Randy Pittman last night, a white guy, who said in 2004, you was at a party with P. Diddy, and you held him down with two minor kids. 'I did an interview with him on my YouTube last night. What do you have to say about that Gene?,' he added in the video posted on TikTok. Gene seemingly looked toward the man as he shouted accusations at him while a woman got close to him and shoved a phone in his face, and a man snapped pictures of him with a camera. 'He said you was at a Puffy party! You gave him E pills and you held two minors down as well as him Gene, I interviewed him on my YouTube,' the man continued. 'He filed a lawsuit!' he added as another man kept repeating the word 'allegedly.' Gene then appeared to look towards the yelling man and said: 'I'll speak to you when you get inside. 'You coming back in right? Alright I'll see you when you get inside,' Gene said as he entered the building. This was reportedly not the first dramatic interaction Deal had outside the courthouse, as he allegedly got physical with a person 'harassing him' at the trial, according to the outlet The Art Of Dialogue. Gene was 'told not to return to the Diddy trial for a few days' following the outburst, according to the outlet. A video, posted by the outlet, appeared to show Gene going back and forth in a heated exchange with a man. 'You're not gonna tell me what to do,' the man told Gene as the bodyguard turned toward him. 'You can't come up on me! If you come up on me, I'm gonna knock you the f*** out,' Gene yelled back. Gene then continued walking ahead as a woman started screaming at the other man. Diddy's former bodyguard is one of many big names who have been vocal about the allegations against the music mogul. The 55-year-old's staggering downfall began when his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a bombshell lawsuit in 2023 detailing horrific claims of sexual abuse and violence at the hands of her ex-partner. The lawsuit was settled for $20 million just a day after it was filed, but it was too late for Diddy's reputation as the rapper was then hit with dozens of lawsuits detailing similar claims. Diddy denies all allegations against him. His lawyers admit he's a woman beater - although he does not face domestic abuse charges - but that he is not guilty of sex trafficking or racketeering. In a recent interview with The Art Of Dialogue, Deal said he believes the pressure from hearing hours of testimony about his 'dirty deeds with Cassie' will 'break' Diddy. 'He can't take sitting right there and hearing all of his dirty deeds with Cassie,' he claimed. 'He's hearing all of his deeds in front of him and he ain't high. He ain't drunk... He gone break bruh. I'm telling you. 'He'll end up asking his defense team to see if y'all can still get me that deal,' he continued.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Diddy bodyguard clashes with fans outside courthouse as freak-off claims and trial drama reaches boiling point
Sean ' Diddy ' Combs' former bodyguard had an intense confrontation with fans outside the New York City courthouse about his alleged involvement in freak-offs. Gene Deal, who protected the disgraced rapper throughout the 1990s, was seen being bombarded by several people on Tuesday - day 10 of the blockbuster trial. Despite explosive testimonies playing out inside the federal courtroom, events outside quickly got heated after Deal was asked about the drug and sex-fueled freak-offs Diddy is accused of orchestrating for several years. While he appeared to enter the courthouse, Gene stopped in his tracks as a man off-camera shouted at him: 'Hey G, I talked to Randy Pittman last night, a white guy, who said in 2004, you was at a party with P. Diddy, and you held him down with two minor kids. 'I did an interview with him on my YouTube last night. What do you have to say about that Gene?,' he added in the video posted on TikTok. Gene seemingly looked toward the man as he shouted accusations at him while a woman got close to him and shoved a phone in his face, and a man snapped pictures of him with a camera. 'He said you was at a Puffy party! You gave him E pills and you held two minors down as well as him Gene, I interviewed him on my YouTube,' the man continued. 'He filed a lawsuit!' he added as another man kept repeating the word 'allegedly.' Gene then appeared to look towards the yelling man and said: 'I'll speak to you when you get inside. 'You coming back in right? Alright I'll see you when you get inside,' Gene said as he entered the building. This was reportedly not the first dramatic interaction Deal had outside the courthouse, as he allegedly got physical with a person 'harassing him' at the trial, according to The Art of Dialogue. Gene was 'told not to return to the Diddy trial for a few days' following the outburst, per the outlet. A video, posted by the outlet, appeared to show Gene going back and forth in a heated exchange with a man. 'You're not gonna tell me what to do,' the man told Gene as the bodyguard turned toward him. 'You can't come up on me! If you come up on me, I'm gonna knock you the f*** out,' Gene yelled back. Gene then continued walking ahead as a woman started screaming at the other man. Diddy's former bodyguard is one of many big names who have been vocal about the allegations against the music mogul. The 55-year-old's staggering downfall began when his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a bombshell lawsuit in 2023 detailing horrific claims of sexual abuse and violence at the hands of her ex-partner. The lawsuit was settled for $20 million just a day after it was filed, but it was too late for Diddy's reputation as the rapper was then hit with dozens of lawsuits detailing similar claims. Diddy denies all allegations against him. His lawyers admit he's a woman beater - although he does not face domestic abuse charges - but that he is not guilty of sex trafficking or racketeering. In a recent interview with The Art of Dialogue, Deal said he believes the pressure from hearing hours of testimony about his 'dirty deeds with Cassie' will 'break' Diddy. 'He can't take sitting right there and hearing all of his dirty deeds with Cassie,' he claimed. 'He's hearing all of his deeds in front of him and he ain't high. He ain't drunk... He gone break bruh. I'm telling you. 'He'll end up asking his defense team to see if y'all can still get me that deal,' he continued.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Lee Sansum dead at 63: Former bodyguard to Princess Diana who protected William & Harry passes away as wife pays tribute
PRINCESS Diana's former bodyguard who protected princes William and Harry has died at the age of 63. Lee Sansum, who served as a royal military police officer, was one of Diana's bodyguards shortly before her death in 1997, escorting her during a family holiday to the French resort of Saint Tropez that year. 6 6 6 The former bodyguard's wife announced the tragic news of Lee's death in a post on Facebook on Monday, revealing he had died of a sudden heart attack. Sharing a compilation of pictures of the couple throughout the years, she wrote: "Since meeting in 1998, Lee Sansum has been my soul mate, hero and most amazing man in my world. "So I'm devastated to share that he is no longer with us. He had a fatal heart attack on Saturday morning at home. "His huge presence will be missed around the world as much as it is in our household although his capacity for love, and the life skills he has shared have left a legacy that will never be lost. "He's forever loved and will always be with us "I love you more than ever 'My Lovely Lee'." On top of being a bodyguard for Diana and her kids, father-of-six Lee also served as a bodyguard for the late Alex Salmond, while he was serving as First Minister of Scotland in 2014. Lee, who held black belts in karate, jujitsu and kick-boxing, was nicknamed "Rambo" by Diana and was no stranger to the spotlight. He also loyally protected stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Nicole Kidman, and Tom Cruise during his career. At the time of Diana's tragic death in 1997, Lee was serving as part of the protection team for Mohamed Al-Fayed - the father of her then partner Dodi. He had been assigned to look after Diana and her young sons Prince William and Prince Harry during their stay at Al-Fayad's 30-bedroom villa in Saint Tropez in the summer of 1997. This was tragically just one month before Diana died in a Paris car crash, alongside Dodi. Lee had released a book in 2022 - called The Bodyguard - in which he explored his close relationship with Diana and the young princes, particularly Harry. He revealed how he had tried to teach the two boys kickboxing but that they were too "apprehensive" to it. 6 6 6 However, he managed to succeed in teaching Harry how to drive a jet ski - even helping him to soak photographers who were waiting to snap a picture of the young prince on holiday. For his loyal and kind services on the trip, he was given a touching thank you letter by Diana. In it, she wrote that she was grateful for the "magical ten days [which] would not have been possible without your invaluable contribution". The former bodyguard also revealed that Diana had turned to him for comfort, even crying on his shoulder, after her fashion designer friend Gianni Versace had been fatally shot outside his home in July 1997. Lee, born in Burnley, Lancashire, said Diana would chat to him every day after she woke up at 7am - adding that she was worried about the safety of her own life. He added that Diana was an "amazing woman", saying: "She cared a great deal. She never said a bad word about anyone.' 25 years following her death, Lee also revealed how he could have been in the car with the princess on the day she died. Speaking in a 2022 interview, he said: "It could have been me in that car. "We drew straws to see who would be accompanying Trevor [Rees-Jones] that weekend. "When I learned they were not wearing seatbelts in the crash I understood why they didn't survive. "I always insisted on it." Lee claimed Diana would still be alive if he had been on duty the night she died in a car crash. The ex-Royal Military Policeman and "international security consultant" explained it was standard practice for the family to wear seatbelts - an order which had been sent down by Mohamed Al-Fayed. When Diana, Dodi, and driver Henri Paul crashed and tragically died, none were wearing seatbelts. Lee had begun his service as a military police officer in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. He said: 'I was looking after people in witness protection. I learnt my craft in Northern Ireland.' After leaving the Army he started working as a civilian bodyguard, known in the industry as The Circuit. A friend then recommended him to billionaire businessman Al-Fayed, who was so impressed by Lee that the bodyguard said he 'became like family'.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Princess Diana's former bodyguard who protected William and Harry dies at the age of 63 - as his wife releases heartbreaking tribute
Princess Diana 's former bodyguard - who protected Prince William and Prince Harry - has died at the age of 63. Lee Sansum, a former royal military police officer, was one of Diana's bodyguards before her death and escorted her during a family holiday to the French resort of St Tropez in 1997. Mr Sansum's wife, Kate made the heartbreaking announcement on Monday via a Facebook post and revealed her husband had died of a sudden heart attack. Alongside a compilation of images of the couple through the years, the wellness coach and martial arts instructor wrote: 'Since meeting in 1998 Lee Sansum has been my soul mate, hero and most amazing man in my world. 'So I'm devastated to share that he is no longer with us. He had a fatal heart attack on Saturday morning at home. 'His huge presence will be missed around the world as much as it is in our household although his capacity for love, and the life skills he has shared have left a legacy that will never be lost. He's forever loved and will always be with us I love you more than ever 'My Lovely Lee'. The father-of-six, was also one of Alex Salmond's bodyguards during the late former First Minister's period in office in 2014. The former royal bodyguard, who the princess nicknamed Rambo, had black belts in karate, jujitsu and kick-boxing, and was no stranger to the spotlights having also worked with Sylvester Stallone, Pele, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise. At the time of Diana's death, he was a part of Mohamed Al-Fayed's protection team, the owner of Hôtel Ritz Paris and formerly Harrods department store and Fulham FC and took care of her during her holiday in the south of France . He had been assigned to look after Diana, and her sons Prince William and Harry, during their stay at Al-Fayad's 30-bedroom villa in St Tropez that summer - just a month before the princess's death. In the ex-Royal Military Policeman's book, Mr Sansum said he formed a close bond with Diana and the young princes, particularly Harry. He revealed he had tried to teach the two boys some kickboxing but they were too 'apprehensive'. He did however manage to show Prince Harry how to drive a jet ski close enough to waiting photographers to soak them. And for his kind services, he was given a touching thank you letter from Diana, according to The Mirror, who wrote that she was grateful for the 'magical ten not have been possible without your invaluable contribution.' Mr Sansum also shared that the late Diana had turned to him for comfort following the death of her fashion designer friend Gianni Versace who had recently been fatally shot outside his home. Burnley-born Lee said Diana would wake up at 7am every day and chat to him. He said she worried about her own life. Almost 25 years after the devastating night which took the lives of Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayad, the Mr Sansum revealed how he could've been with the princess that weekend, and with them in the car. In a 2022 interview he said: 'It could have been me in that car. We drew straws to see who would be accompanying Trevor [Rees-Jones] that weekend. When I learned they were not wearing seatbelts in the crash I understood why they didn't survive. I always insisted on it.' Mr Sansum, ex-Royal Military Policeman, martial arts champion, private military contractor and expert in close protection, added that it was standard practice for the family to wear seatbelts, an order sent down from Mohamed Al-Fayed. He made the comments while discussing his book, 'The Bodyguard', about his life as an expert in close protection, calling it 'the story of the real bodyguard'. During the course of his long and varied career, he also worked undercover in Northern Ireland and joined the SIB, the Army's own internal affairs unit, before entering the world of private security, operating in the world's hotspots, such as Libya and the breakaway state of Somaliland.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- The Sun
Kim Kardashian's ex-bodyguard's lawyer insists he was right to leave her alone in hotel where she was robbed at gunpoint
THE bodyguard who left Kim Kardashian alone in a Paris hotel before she was robbed at gunpoint acted appropriately and followed protocol, his attorney has told The U.S. Sun. Jerry Kroll, a lawyer specializing in jewelry heists, was present in court last week as his client, Pascal Duvier, testified in the so-called "robbery of the century" trial in the French capital. 10 10 Duvier lost his job with the Kardashians after the harrowing incident, which left Kim fearing for her life as a gang of local criminals made off with $10 million worth of jewelry. On the night of October 3, 2016, the towering bodyguard, who had worked for the family for several years, agreed to leave Kim in her hotel room while he accompanied her sisters, Kourtney and Kendall, to a nightclub. This decision left Kim vulnerable to the attack, during which she was robbed of $10 million worth of jewellery, including an 18.88-carat diamond ring given to her by her now ex-husband, Kanye West. A month later, Duvier's security team was dismissed, and in October 2020, the reality star's insurance company settled a $6.1 million lawsuit with him. However, Kroll insists that the bodyguard was not to blame. 'He followed protocol,' Kroll told The U.S. Sun. 'Pascal wasn't solely responsible for Kim's security; Kourtney was also part of his protection detail. They had stayed at this hotel multiple times before, and everything had always gone smoothly. "He did his job.' Kroll added that Duvier remains on good terms with the Kardashian family, even reaching out to them ahead of his recent appearance in Paris. 'It pains him to see what happened to Kim,' Kroll said. During an emotional courtroom appearance this week, the 44-year-old reality star tearfully recounted the traumatic events of that night in front of 10 defendants. With her mother, Kris Jenner, 69, by her side, an emotional Kim detailed the terrifying ordeal. 'I absolutely thought I was going to die,' she said. 'He pulled me towards him, and I said a prayer. I was certain that was the moment he was going to rape me.' SHOCKING SCENES Kim described how she was bound hand and foot, her mouth taped shut in what is known in France as 'sausaging,' before being dragged into the bathroom and placed in a bathtub wearing only her dressing gown. A gun was pressed against her back as the masked intruders made off with a cache of valuable jewels. Kroll emphasised the significance of Duvier's testimony, particularly the moment he received a phone call about the unfolding incident. 'He got a call, but no one was on the line,' Kroll explained. 'He rushed back to the hotel, found one of the concierges handcuffed, and eventually reached Kim, who was in a state of distress.' 10 10 During cross-examination, Kardashian's lawyer asked Duvier if he had ever seen Kim hysterically crying before. 'His answer was no,' Kroll recounted. 'This was a shock to everyone. In hindsight, you can always say things could have been done differently, but Pascal is one of the best in the world at what he does. Even now, he's working with another high-profile client.' GANG MISTAKES The accused robbers, now in their 60s and 70s, were seasoned criminals who reportedly didn't even recognise Kim. Instead, they demanded that the concierge take them to 'the rapper's wife.' One of the gang members later admitted he only realised her level of fame after seeing news coverage of the heist the following day while watching TV with his wife. Due to their age and the complexities of the French legal system, Kroll believes lengthy prison sentences are unlikely. One of the defendants, known as 'Old Omar,' wrote a letter of apology to Kim from his jail cell, while another, Yunice Abbas, 71, published a memoir titled I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian. Abbas fled the scene on a bicycle but fell during his escape, spilling part of the stolen loot. Another gang member, Marceau 'Rough Diamond' Baum-Gertner, passed away at the age of 72 just days before the trial began. 'The question is whether the French justice system will impose harsh sentences or take into account their age and the time they've already served,' Kroll said. 'Will they really give life sentences to men in their 80s?' 10 10 10 The gang's escape was far from flawless, leaving behind a trail of evidence, including DNA-covered cable ties, fingerprints throughout the hotel suite, and even a $50,000 diamond necklace abandoned in the street. French police, with assistance from the FBI, had already been monitoring the suspects, bugging their phones and tracking their movements. Investigators overheard them arguing over how to divide the loot at a Paris bistro. None of the stolen jewelry has been recovered, as most is believed to have been melted down and sold through Antwerp's notorious diamond trade. Kim's engagement ring, however, was likely too recognizable to be resold. 'In jewelry heists, it's common for gold to be melted down and diamonds to be altered,' Kroll explained. 'Otherwise, these pieces are too identifiable. The thieves made plenty of mistakes here, but the challenge is always finding a way to sell the goods.' What happened to Kim Kardashian? by Harvey Geh Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in Paris, 2016, marking the biggest robbery of an individual in France for more than 20 years. At the time the reality icon was in the French capital for Paris Fashion Week with her former husband Kanye West - before the rapper returned to the US to pick up his Saint Pablo tour. Now left in Paris along with her sister Kourtney and various other entourage members, Kardashian stayed in an exclusive set of apartments so secret they are dubbed the No Address Hotel. The penthouse suite Kardashian was staying in at the chic Hotel de Pourtalès - which is popular with celebrity A-listers - costs an eye-watering £13,000 per night. On the evening of October 3, after the star had attended a fashion show with her sister, Kardashian decided to stay in the apartment alone while the rest of her crew - including bodyguard Pascal Duvier - went out for the night. At around 2:30am, three armed men donning ski masks and dressed as police burst into the apartment block and threatened the concierge at gunpoint. Two of them are alleged to have forced the concierge to take them to the reality icon's suite - with the worker later telling police that they yelled: "Where's the rapper's wife?" Kardashian said she was "dozing" on her bed at the time, after uploading social media posts telling viewers that she was home alone, which she believes gave the robbers a "window of opportunity". The star said the robbers grabbed her, tied her up with plastic cables and taped her mouth and legs before dropping her in the bathtub. Before locking her in the bathroom they had held her at gunpoint and demanded specifically for her ring and also money. Cops said the robbers left the room after seizing the jewels and escaped on bikes - while carrying a haul estimated to be worth about $10million including a $4million 18.88-carat diamond engagement ring from West. Kardashian said she then managed to free herself from the restraints and rushed to help. The trial, delayed multiple times due to the pandemic and a backlog of major cases, finally began on April 28. Charges against the defendants include armed robbery, kidnapping, complicity, and illegal possession of firearms. One female defendant has argued that she could not have been involved, claiming, 'Attacking a woman isn't one of my principles.' Kim, who is now studying law in California, had avoided the trial proceedings until her recent testimony. Kroll thinks she will be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder "for life," especially as she recalled the horror night her life "flashed before her eyes." 'This is my closure,' Kim told the court. 'This is me finally putting this behind me.' 10
