Who is Simon Newton? Ex-bodyguard of Kendall Jenner, Taylor Swift, Gigi and Bella Hadid reveals REALITY of protecting A-listers
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A famous bodyguard turned Hollywood action star and fashion designer shared what it's actually like to safeguard supermodel twins Gigi Hadid, 28, and Bella Hadid, 26, as well as the most bizarre demands he's received from his various A-list clients over the years. Simon Newton, 45, has led the kind of life that most people only dream of. He has worked with the Hadid sisters as well as a number of other clients, such as Rita Ora, 32, Kendall Jenner, 27, Halsey, 28, Kate Moss, 49, and Naomi Campbell, 52.
Many times, stars' bodyguards have saved them during dangerous situations. Sacha Baron Cohen's bodyguard saved his life two times. According to reports, the 'Borat' actor was accosted by Trump supporters during a gun rally and was on the approach of being shot when his bodyguard came to his rescue.
READ MORE
Who is Malcolm Connolly? Johnny Depp's bodyguard saw 'swelling' on his face during honeymoon
Who is Simon Newton?
Newton, who is preparing for the launch of his own fashion line and was once dubbed by British Vogue as the "Real Star of London Fashion Week" for his perfect sense of style, claims that Bella and Gigi are "really quite similar" and surprisingly "down to earth, good people," as per Daily Mail. Simon served in the British army and worked on operations in Iraq for four years before leaving the military in 2004. "I worked for the separately because they were always were booked for different things at different times. Most of my time was spent with Bella," Newton shared. "I got along very well with her. she is absolutely great."
What did Simon say about Gigi and Bella?
Following in the footsteps of her sister Gigi, Bella has emerged as a major fashion name in recent years. According to Daily Mail, when asked if the striking brunette beauty has changed as a result, Newton said, "Not at all. Bella hasn’t changed herself very much. None of this has ever gone to her head."
What did Simon say about Kendall Jenner?
Kendall Jenner, 27, stunned Newton by hiring him as her bodyguard. "I thought she might be difficult, but she wasn't. Obviously, Kendall was a bit further up the tree from Bella at the start of it," said Newton. "She was always good to me, and she treated me well. All those girls used to make sure I was not standing around. I was never mistreated." "With models in particular, you look at them from the outside," he added. Newton further added, "It is assumed they are pretentious because the way that they look and the way they dress all the time. Deep down, they are really nice people."
'I always made sure to stay professional'
When questioned if a client has ever hit on him, Newton maintains that he has never made a move on any of his clients since he must always act professionally. However, this is not always the case. When asked if a supermodel had ever made a pass at him, he responded with a giggle and said, "Yes. A lot of the time you tend to forget who you are with as well." Newton added, "When you are around them you are just the same as them. When you are out together you just tend to forget who it is, but I always made sure to stay professional."
What did he say about superstar singers?
Simon claimed that superstar singers had more ridiculous expectations than supermodels. "You get some that only travel in certain vehicles. Not necessarily a certain color, but some like a V-class only with TV’s in the back. Some only travel in S-Class Mercedes as well," said the star bodygaurd. "A common theme among the stars in the music industry is that they seem to always like vans, but only really nice vans. The singers need to have the room. I have worked for Halsey a lot and she always wants a really nice luxury van. Rita Ora, the same thing," he added. Newton further added, "I have not worked for him, but people like Drake always have their own vans and they are all pimped out,' Newton said. He added, "Most of the time I have looked after women, so women are not bothered like that."
'Taylor is just wonderful'
Taylor Swift, who he describes as "no different" from anyone else, is among the most well-known female A-list singers Newton has collaborated with. He said, "I have worked with Taylor a lot because she is friends with Halsey, Gigi and Bella. They are all friends. That whole bunch of girls are just all very close. We have all been out together on several occasions. Taylor is just just wonderful."
'The hours are horrendous'
Newton claims that despite the glitz and luxury, the profession also requires long hours. He stated, "I think one of the one of the biggest things people don't realize is the number of hours we do. The hours are horrendous, and quite often when you see bodyguards on a carpet red carpet that guy has already worked about 18 hours." Newton further exclaimed, "You get up in the morning before the person you with gets up. And you can't really go to sleep until they've gone to sleep. On top of that, you need to make sure it fixed ready for the next day as well. You may have to visit some places."
'Biggest problem is the paparazzi'
Fortunately, Newton claims that being a bodyguard among supermodels and celebrities is not particularly dangerous. He said, "With all of the girls that I have worked for, the biggest problem is the paparazzi that follow them everywhere. With fans, most of the time they just want an autograph, or a photo with them. That is not so bad." "But in the United States, paparazzi can get extremely aggressive compared to in London, where I am from. In London, they photographers have to abide by a different set of rules and they are much more reserved," he explained.
What is he doing now?
Since then, Newton has stopped working as a bodyguard and has started his own security firm, Askari Secure Ltd. His central London office currently has approximately 70 people working for him. Since deciding to pursue a career on-camera, Newton has appeared in a number of films and television programs, including 'Final Score', in which he acted as Dave Bautista's stand-in, 'Green Zone Thriller', and 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'. His sharp clothing selections often include a combination of cut and stylish suits, as well as casual designer jeans and t-shirts that are always accessorized with a Hermes belt. The creation of Newton's own fashion line, which will debut later this year, is presently underway.