Who Is Beyoncé's Protector, Julius De Boer?
For over a decade, Beyoncé has collaborated with de Boer, and loyal fans have speculated that he has played a pivotal role in protecting the superstar during every iconic moment in her career since 2008.
Queen Bey's bodyguard hails from Amsterdam, Distractify reports, and has been making a name for himself in the private security field in Europe since his university days. Having started his own security company at a young age, according to Page Six, he expanded its operations to include global offices in New York, London, and Abu Dhabi.
With an impressive track record, de Boer reportedly became a trusted figure in the industry, earning him a coveted spot as Beyoncé's go-to security personnel.
Fans have spotted de Boer at countless public appearances and concerts, most recently throughout Beyoncé's Renaissance world tour.
According to Distractify, he was even there for the "Halo" crooner's more personal moments, such as being present during the birth of her children and the infamous elevator altercation between Jay-Z, 54, and her sister, Solange Knowles.
Is Beyonce's New Track "Bodyguard" About Her Actual Bodyguard And Not Jay-Z? Some Fans Think So
Some of the lyrics to the new song "Bodyguard" allude to a secretive relationship of some kind, and its title is making some fans think its subject might be the "Texas Hold 'Em" hitmaker's actual bodyguard de Boer, rather than her husband, Jay-Z.
"I give you kisses in the backseat / I whisper secrets in the backbeat," she sings on the first verse. In the pre-chorus, the "16 Carriages" artist croons: "They couldn't catch you (Ah, with me) / And they never will (You see) / Sometimes I hold you closer / Just to know you're real (Ah)."
On YouTube, shortly after Beyoncé shared the lyric video for the new song, one fan commented: "Shoutout to Julius the Bodyguard," as another added: "Exactly what I was thinking" and one other replied: "this comment almost made me spit out my food." One other chimed in: "I immediately thought of Julius" as another noted: "I was waiting for this comment sis ain’t hiding it anymore."
More shared similar sentiments as one wrote: "Why would Queen Bey make a song titles bodyguard when she was rumoured to be too close to Julius? I think she did this on purpose." Another shot back: "because people gonna talk and you can’t prove it anyway."
Others, however, were adamant in that they thought the song was about Jay-Z, and how the two might take turns "guarding" or "protecting" each other and their privacy as a couple. "She’s talking about Jay her forever bodyguard," one fan commented as someone else concurred: "she talking bt jayz" as another replied: "lol but the song is about Jay. We are just taking the piss."
More lyrics from "Bodyguard" that actually seem to be about the "99 Problems" rapper (rather than Beyoncé's literal bodyguard), according to fans, are in the chorus ("Honеy, honey / I could be your bodyguard / Honey, honey You could be my bodyguard") and in the second verse ("Be your best friend / I protect you in the mosh pit / And I'll defend you in the gossip / You know how people like to start shit and pop sh-t").
While Beyoncé has yet to address these allegations and fan speculation regarding "Bodyguard," she did recently share how much making her latest genre-bending LP meant to her.
On March 19th, she wrote in an Instagram caption for her 320 million followers that Cowboy Carter is the second iteration of a three-part album act, following her 2022 dance pop record, Renaissance.
"This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive," she wrote.
Beyoncé continued: "It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history. The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. Act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work."
The Texas native also acknowledged the inclusion of famous collaborators like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone and more. "I have a few surprises on the album, and have collaborated with some brilliant artists who I deeply respect. I hope that you can hear my heart and soul, and all the love and passion that I poured into every detail and every sound," she noted.
The artist concluded her message: "I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE…I hope this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop. This ain’t a Country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album. This is act ii COWBOY CARTER, and I am proud to share it with y’all!"