In executive protection, building and maintaining relationships with principals is everything. But what happens when those relationships go sour or even go to trial? Here are examples of 7 bodyguards who have sued their celebrity clients for lost wages, unsafe work environments, sexual harassment, and more.
7 Bodyguards Who Have Sued Their Celebrity Clients
These are the six most notable cases of bodyguards who have sued their celebrity clients, their motives, and how those lawsuits have been resolved.
#1 Eugene Arreola and Miguel Sanchez vs Johnny Depp
Two former bodyguards, Eugene Arreola and Miguel Sanchez, have filed a lawsuit against Johnny Depp, alleging unpaid wages, wrongful termination, and a hostile work environment.
Arreola, a retired LAPD detective, and Sanchez, a career bodyguard, claim they were forced to work in unsafe conditions. Their duties allegedly included supervising “unstable individuals,” chauffeuring minors in vehicles with drugs and open alcohol containers, and handling situations beyond a bodyguard’s role.
The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court on May 1, 2018, sought compensation for unpaid overtime, missed breaks, and damages for psychological distress.
The plaintiffs said that despite working for Depp for years, they were improperly classified as independent contractors rather than employees, depriving them of proper wages under federal and California labor laws. They claimed they were denied overtime pay and rest breaks despite being promised full-time employment under Depp’s production company, Scaramanga Bros. Inc.
When Arreola and Sanchez raised concerns about their working conditions, they say they faced retaliation. Arreola’s hours were cut, while Sanchez was denied time off for a family medical issue.
Despite their grievances, both men say they initially enjoyed working for Depp but ultimately left due to an increasingly toxic and unsafe work environment.
Court documents indicate that the bodyguards reached a conditional settlement that resolves the matter but settlement details were never released.
#2 Fernando Flores vs Britney Spears
Former bodyguard Fernando Flores filed a lawsuit against Britney Spears, accusing her of sexual harassment and emotional distress.
Flores alleged that Spears repeatedly walked around nude, engaged in sexual acts in his presence, and made unwanted advances toward him. He also claimed she had violent arguments with her boyfriend in front of her children and acted inappropriately around them.
The lawsuit further accused Spears of punishing her sons with a belt, though Kevin Federline’s lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, dismissed these claims as baseless and financially motivated. Kaplan stated that the accusations had been previously reviewed and found unsubstantiated.
Flores, who worked for Spears from February to July of 2010, also alleged that his security firm employers ignored or mocked his complaints about the singer’s behavior.
The lawsuit was settled in 2018, but settlement details remain undisclosed.
#3 Moshe Benabou vs Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber’s former bodyguard, Moshe Benabou, filed a lawsuit against the singer and BT Touring LLC, alleging assault, battery, and labor law violations.
Benabou, who worked for Bieber from March 2011 to October 2012, claimed the singer verbally and physically attacked him before a concert. He alleged Bieber punched him repeatedly in the chest and upper body after mistakenly believing Benabou was keeping a member of his entourage away. Following the incident, Bieber allegedly fired him on the spot.
The lawsuit also accused BT Touring LLC of violating California labor laws by failing to pay Benabou overtime, wages, and earned vacation pay. Despite working 14–18 hours a day, seven days a week, Benabou says he was misclassified as a salaried employee and denied overtime.
His attorney argued that the case highlighted an abuse of power in employer-employee relationships and sought fair compensation and workplace protections.
The dispute was settled in 2014 and Bieber’s attorney at the time stated: “The matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties, and the case has been dismissed.”
#4 Carlos Christian vs Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne’s former bodyguard, Carlos Christian, has accused the rapper of assault and making threats with a semiautomatic rifle. Christian originally filed a lawsuit in December 2023 and expanded on his allegations in a new legal filing.
Christian, who provided security for Lil Wayne several nights a week in 2021, said the rapper wrongly accused him of taking photos before allegedly attacking him. According to Christian, Lil Wayne punched him in the ear and confronted him with a rifle, shouting, “Why the f— you takin’ pictures?”
The bodyguard, who was armed at the time, insists he never pulled his weapon. After the altercation, Christian reported the incident to the police, claiming Lil Wayne threatened him with an AR-15.
Lil Wayne denied all allegations. His legal team argued that Christian was much larger than the rapper, was armed during the confrontation, and even shoved the rapper. They also pointed out that Christian continued working as a security guard for another company months later, despite claiming severe emotional distress and PTSD.
The lawsuit remains ongoing and Christian is fighting to keep the lawsuit from being tossed out.
#5 Marc McWilliams vs Kris Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian
McWilliams, who worked for Kris Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, and David Shield Security from 2017 to 2019, claimed Jenner made unwanted sexual advances toward him. He detailed an alleged October 2017 incident in which Jenner groped him while they were in her Bentley, touching his thigh and groin in a manner he described as “overtly sexually offensive.” Jenner’s legal team has denied the accusations.
McWilliams also alleged he was fired in retaliation for complaining about Jenner’s behavior. He claims he first reported the alleged harassment in May 2017 and that Jenner later cut his work hours before he was ultimately dismissed in September 2019.
In 2023, McWilliams filed to dismiss his sexual harassment lawsuit against Jenner after three years of legal battles.
According to court documents, Marc McWilliams requested to dismiss his “entire action” against all parties, including Kourtney Kardashian, Armor Protection Services, and David Shield Security.
He asked to dismiss with prejudice, meaning he cannot bring the issue to court again. It is unclear whether there was a financial component to the dismissal.
#6 Eduardo Andres Torres Martinez vs Floyd Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather is being sued for an alleged assault at Yard House in L.A. Live, with the plaintiff, Eduardo Andres Torres Martinez, seeking $3.3 million in damages. The lawsuit claims that Mayweather ordered one of his security guards to physically confront Eduardo after he began recording the boxer’s arrival at the restaurant.
Eduardo alleges that on February 10, 2022, Mayweather’s presence caused a stir among restaurant patrons, leading him to pull out his phone to capture the moment. He claims that Mayweather then instructed his bodyguard to intervene, resulting in Eduardo being struck and knocked to the ground. The lawsuit also states that the bodyguard attempted to take his phone.
Eduardo is suing for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. His lawsuit demands $1.5 million in general damages, $40,000 in medical expenses, $500,000 for future medical costs, $300,000 for lost future earnings, and $1 million in punitive damages. Additionally, the owners of Yard House are included in the suit for alleged negligence in handling the situation.
Mayweather has denied all allegations and has sought to have the case dismissed. His legal team argues that Eduardo’s actions contributed to the incident and that the confrontation was not foreseeable as harmful.
This is not the only legal challenge Mayweather faces. A separate lawsuit was filed by William Rodriguez-Mercado, who claims that Mayweather’s security team assaulted him for filming the boxer jogging in public. William alleges that he was physically attacked, knocked unconscious, and had his phone confiscated. He is seeking over $15,000 in damages.
These lawsuits could impact Mayweather’s reputation and highlight concerns about the conduct of his security team. As the cases progress, they may set a precedent for the responsibilities celebrities bear regarding their entourages’ actions in public settings. The case is still ongoing.