A Salute to Celebrity Bodyguards on Instagram, Including Kim Kardashian’s German “G” Pascal
Pascal Duvier will crush you if you cross him, but on Instagram he’s a hulk with a heart of gold. After a busy week staving off attacks on clients like Kardashian and Gigi Hadid, other hunky celebrity bodyguards have made an impression on social media.
It’s been a busy few weeks for celebrity bodyguards. Last Thursday at Milan Fashion Week, Gigi Hadid was accosted by a man on the street named Vitalii Sediuk, who tried to pick her up on her way out of the Fendi show. And on Wednesday, Kim Kardashian was pestered by the same man in Paris. And while Hadid defended herself by elbowing Sediuk in the face, Kardashian’s bodyguard Pascal Duvier immediately jumped on him, tackling him to the ground in a headlock with the help of an unidentified, dandy-looking man in a boater hat.
Following the incident, Kardashian took to Twitter to shoutout Duvier, calling him a “G,” which is when it was brought to the internet’s attention that Duvier and other celebrity bodyguards have strong social media presences, including Adele’s handsome protector, Peter Van Der Veen, Kylie Jenner’s bodyguard Tim Chung, and Justin Bieber’s buddy, Mikey Arana.
Because of the craziness of celebrity culture today, these bodyguards need to be with celebrities 24-7, and as a result they’ve become recognizable faces on their own right, popping up both in paparazzi photos and on social media. It’s no wonder that their employers treat them like family, both because of their omnipresence and the role that they play in keeping them safe, as evidenced most recently with Hadid and Kardashian. In many cases, like with Blue Ivy, North West, and the Jolie-Pitt kids, they’re not only bodyguards but also babysitters — protecting Hollywood scions when mom and dad aren’t around to do so themselves. Also, lest we forget that Heidi Klum felt so attached to her bodyguard, Martin Kirsten, that they dated briefly in 2014. (His Instagram is private.)
Duvier, who can often be spotted in the background of Kardashian paparazzi photos by his recognizable box beard and black leather fanny pack, has over 8,000 followers on Twitter and over 56,000 on Instagram. On Twitter, he shares inspirational quotes and often re-tweets travel advisories from the Department of State. And on Instagram, he documents his many travels, his diet — which is far from Atkins and includes steak and sushi at the same time — as well as his very, very rigorous workout routine. Despite his appearance, however, his online presence makes him come off as a gentle giant.
Adele’s bodyguard, Peter Van Der Veen, was immediately noticed for his good looks. The Dutchman is a former bodybuilder and has also been spotted by the side of Lady Gaga. He posts numerous shirtless photos on Instagram, natch.
Justin Bieber’s bodyguard, Mikey Arana has taken a page from his employer’s book with numerous photos of himself in front of waterfalls, like this one.
This seemingly-idyllic Instagram of Britney Spear’s security detail is haunting.
Kylie Jenner’s bodyguard, Tim Chung, is also a cop. So, no Snapchatting and driving allowed on his watch.
And last but certainly not least, Beyoncé and Jay Z’s bodyguard, Julius de Boer doesn’t have his own Instagram, however, this September a fan page was created in honor of his service to America’s first family. The photo below demonstrates his unwavering devotion, pun intended.
