Robert De Niro and Whitney Houston: The untold story of a love that never was. Memoir by Whitney's bodyguard reveals

Robert De Niro may be known for his tough-guy roles, but when it came to Whitney Houston, he was nothing short of smitten. According to Protecting Whitney, a new memoir by Houston’s former bodyguard David Roberts, the Oscar-winning actor was relentless in his pursuit of the music icon—going so far as to shower her with rooms full of flowers in an attempt to win her heart.

But for all his persistence, De Niro’s grand gestures were no match for Cissy Houston. The legendary singer’s mother reportedly shut down the Hollywood star’s advances with a stern phone call, telling him to stop making a fool of himself. And just like that, De Niro’s romantic hopes were over before they even began.

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A Romance That Never Took Flight

Roberts recalls that De Niro was "not an individual used to taking no for an answer," but in this case, Whitney wasn’t interested. At the time, she was dating fellow superstar Eddie Murphy, making it clear that De Niro’s pursuit was one-sided.


Houston herself once acknowledged De Niro’s admiration, playfully recalling his persistence during a 1990 interview on The Byron Allen Show.

"He sent me flowers and everything, and he’d been on my case," she laughed. "He called me the night at Carnegie Hall... He didn’t want to come to the show because he shies away from the public eye, but he wanted to get to know me better."

Still, despite his efforts, Houston admitted that De Niro was already involved with model Toukie Smith, making any potential romance even more unlikely.

While De Niro may have been captivated by Houston, it was another Bobby who ultimately won her heart—Bobby Brown.

Roberts, however, was one of many who felt their relationship was doomed from the start.

"Bobby came from one element, Whitney came from another… you would never think that they could ever come together successfully," Roberts said. "He could not come up to her standards. So she went down to his standards to make him feel comfortable in her environment."

Their tumultuous marriage, which began in 1992, quickly became tabloid fodder. Brown was widely blamed for introducing Houston to a lifestyle of addiction, though he later denied those claims, arguing that Whitney had her own struggles long before they met.

A Love Story That Never Happened

Looking back, one can’t help but wonder how different Houston’s life might have been if she had given De Niro a chance. Would she have found stability in the arms of one of Hollywood’s most revered actors? Or was she destined for the chaotic romance that ultimately contributed to her downfall?

Roberts believes Houston’s inner circle failed her, allowing her to spiral further into addiction after her split from Brown. By the time she died in 2012, at just 48 years old, her once flawless voice had deteriorated, and her struggles with drugs had become impossible to ignore.

"I remain angry," Roberts admitted. "She should be alive now, and we should be listening to her songs."

Though De Niro’s love for Houston never blossomed into a real relationship, it’s a fascinating glimpse into an alternate reality—one where the world’s greatest voice might have been paired with one of Hollywood’s greatest actors.