Kanye West’s Ex-Bodyguard Shared The Strange Rules The Star Insists On

Kanye West definitely isn’t afraid to be bizarre. There was that weird, out-of-the-blue moment with Taylor Swift at the VMAs. Oh, and that time when he called some festival organizers “squid brains.” His marriage to Kim Kardashian was pretty strange, too, let’s face it. But nothing tops the crazy rules he had for his ex-bodyguard. 

Take down

It should come as no surprise to learn that Kanye has rubbed some folks the wrong way. Speaking with Jimmy Kimmel, Kanye said of his braggadocious behavior, “I refuse to follow those rules that society has set up, in the way that they control people with low self-esteem.” And in an interview with BBC Radio 1, the star declared, “I was taught I could do everything.” But former bodyguard Steve Stanulis disagrees.

Bodyguard with a past

Stanulis is a fascinating guy in his own right, too. In fact, his varied background may explain why he doesn't suffer fools gladly. He started performing in dance revues as a teen. And when he joined the NYPD at 19, he didn’t give all that up. Nope, he was catching criminals during the day and turning out a show at night.

Savage man

Stanulis — working under the stage name Steve Savage — set up a dance ensemble called Savage Men. Then, after quitting the NYPD, he became a bodyguard to the stars. And he has a wild streak. Stanulis has written an autobiography called Sex and the Shield, and it seems like it's every bit as racy as that title suggests.

Making it work

This past may not have boded well for Stanulis’ stint working as a security consultant for Kanye and his then-wife, Kim Kardashian. But maybe his time in showbiz did. As well as his successful dance act, Stanulis took on bit-part acting roles. He cropped up in The Sopranos as well as the movies Cupidity and Darkroom. Perhaps Kanye was impressed by his IMDb credits!