Former Chippendale dancer Steve Stanulis, in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Online, denied he had made advances toward the TV star and declared: 'Kanye needs to chill the f*** out.'
Stanulis, 42, a former Staten Island police officer and father of three, said he was sacked minutes after Kanye saw him approaching his wife at the door of their Presidential suite on the 36th floor of New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Monday.
The bodyguard, who has also minded for Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio and Spider-Man actor Tobey Maguire, said Kanye was 'the most self-absorbed person' he had ever met. More stories and pics after the cut
Body guard to the stars Steve Stanulis, in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Online, denied he had made advances to Kim Kardashian before Kanye West fired him on Monday in New York
Stanulis, 42, a former Chippendales dancer and Staten Island cop, said he was sacked minutes after Kanye saw him approaching his wife, Kim
Stanulis said the couple left for the Met Gala (the couple pictured above at the event) without telling him, even though he was supposed to work as their security for the event
Stanulis's departure from working alongside the rapper also served to provide an insight into the tensions that are an everyday part of the star's life.
He said Kanye had an air of self importance when dealing with people who worked for him and could hardly be bothered to exchange more than a few words with his security detail.
The super-rich rapper stands accused of failing to offer his bodyguards even a glass of water when he dines out in top restaurants while being watched over.
The burly bodyguard admitted, however, that Monday's sacking followed an earlier incident in February when he was warned off from speaking to celebratory mother-of-two Kardashian.
I was walking and the door was open and I happened to see Kim. I thought I'd ask her or the other security or assistant if there was a change of plan.
But Stanulis, who is 5ft 11in and weighs 205lb, denied he had hit on her and only learned of the reason for his dismissal from members of Kanye's entourage.
According to TMZ, Stanulis was not fired and Kanye has ‘no issue with bodyguards talking to Kim.'
But Stanulis, who has worked for Kanye on multiple occasions, says his firing followed his decision to travel up to the 36th floor of the hotel and engage with Kardashian about their plans for Monday's Met Gala, which he believed had changed.
Stanulis said: 'They (Kanye and his wife) were getting ready for Met Gala. I was sitting downstairs in the Waldorf, and it was around 6pm.
'I got some information that they were looking to rent a Lamborghini, or something of that nature.'
He said they had called their driver down to see if he could obtain the sports car.
'He tried, but he couldn't as it was last minute.
'I went upstairs to see what was happening as we were supposed to be driving them.
'I just wanted to make sure we were ready when they were ready. I went up to the floor to the Presidential Suite.
'I was walking and the door was open and I happened to see Kim.
'I thought I'd ask her or the other security or assistant if there was a change of plan.
'As I was walking up to Kim and the room (within touching distance of Kardashian), Kanye walked by.
'He came from around the corner and saw me walking towards the room.
'I turned around and said "Hey Mr West… how you doing?"
He said the superstar rapper failed to return the greeting, glared at him and walked past him.
Stanulis added: 'He went to the door and slammed it. I thought that was Ok. So I went back downstairs. I told the driver I had no idea what was going on.'
Within minutes one of Kanye's senior staff called him and told him he would not be needed any more, effectively firing him on the spot.
After accompanying them to the Met Gala, he was due to handle their security the next day, but both tasks were removed.
He had been designated to drive with Kanye, his wife and their children and nanny to Teterboro airport in Bergen County, New Jersey, to see them off on a private jet to Los Angeles at 2pm on Tuesday.
'But then I was told I wouldn't be needed (the next day)' he said.
Shortly after, he was told to standby as they were ready to leave the Waldorf for the Met Gala, but the couple slipped out without their hired guard and left him stranded.
He never saw them again and headed home to his wife Lisa and family.
'They just left me and I had been waiting for them all day as their security' he said.
Asked if he had been flirting with Kim Kardashian, he said: 'Even if I wanted to, I never got the opportunity because it happened so fast.
'The way he was situated (on the hotel corridor), maybe he thought I was there longer or walking up for a different reason.
'Maybe it was a misunderstanding, but I didn't have the opportunity.
'I had no intention on hitting on Kim Kardashian. I am happily married. I got enough problems in the world and three young kids, so that was not my intent.
Stanulis has said that Kanye West is the most 'self-absorbed person' he's ever met, and that the rapper was difficult to work with
But Stanulis, who has worked for Kanye on multiple occasions, says his firing followed his decision to travel up to the 36th floor of the hotel and engage with Kardashian about their plans for Monday's Met Gala, which he believed had changed.
Stanulis said: 'They (Kanye and his wife) were getting ready for Met Gala. I was sitting downstairs in the Waldorf, and it was around 6pm.
'I got some information that they were looking to rent a Lamborghini, or something of that nature.'
He said they had called their driver down to see if he could obtain the sports car.
'He tried, but he couldn't as it was last minute.
'I went upstairs to see what was happening as we were supposed to be driving them.
'I just wanted to make sure we were ready when they were ready. I went up to the floor to the Presidential Suite.
'I was walking and the door was open and I happened to see Kim.
'I thought I'd ask her or the other security or assistant if there was a change of plan.
'As I was walking up to Kim and the room (within touching distance of Kardashian), Kanye walked by.
'He came from around the corner and saw me walking towards the room.
'I turned around and said "Hey Mr West… how you doing?"
He said the superstar rapper failed to return the greeting, glared at him and walked past him.
Stanulis added: 'He went to the door and slammed it. I thought that was Ok. So I went back downstairs. I told the driver I had no idea what was going on.'
Within minutes one of Kanye's senior staff called him and told him he would not be needed any more, effectively firing him on the spot.
After accompanying them to the Met Gala, he was due to handle their security the next day, but both tasks were removed.
He had been designated to drive with Kanye, his wife and their children and nanny to Teterboro airport in Bergen County, New Jersey, to see them off on a private jet to Los Angeles at 2pm on Tuesday.
'But then I was told I wouldn't be needed (the next day)' he said.
Shortly after, he was told to standby as they were ready to leave the Waldorf for the Met Gala, but the couple slipped out without their hired guard and left him stranded.
He never saw them again and headed home to his wife Lisa and family.
'They just left me and I had been waiting for them all day as their security' he said.
Asked if he had been flirting with Kim Kardashian, he said: 'Even if I wanted to, I never got the opportunity because it happened so fast.
'The way he was situated (on the hotel corridor), maybe he thought I was there longer or walking up for a different reason.
'Maybe it was a misunderstanding, but I didn't have the opportunity.
'I had no intention on hitting on Kim Kardashian. I am happily married. I got enough problems in the world and three young kids, so that was not my intent.
Stanulis has said that Kanye West is the most 'self-absorbed person' he's ever met, and that the rapper was difficult to work with
Stanulis said he would never hit on Kim (pictured at Monday's Met Gala), because he's a married man with three children of his own
'She's a very beautiful girl, very attractive. But obviously it was just to see if they were going to get to the Met Gala at a particular time.'
Asked if he felt Kanye thought he had been hitting on his wife, he said: 'I don't know if he was or wasn't. But if he was for whatever reason, he just has to chill out.
'I mean he has everything you could possibly want in the world…money, power, fame, a beautiful wife and talent. He has to pull back.
'I'd like to think this was all a misunderstanding. But if this was the reason, to be where he is and to be that insecure, it is mind boggling to me.'
Stanulis said he had worked around 15 days this year for Kanye - ten in February at fashion week and five last week for the Met Gala, both in New York City.
During his New York Fashion Week stint, he was told to keep away from Kim after Kanye had seen him speaking to her.
'She's a very beautiful girl, very attractive. But obviously it was just to see if they were going to get to the Met Gala at a particular time.'
Asked if he felt Kanye thought he had been hitting on his wife, he said: 'I don't know if he was or wasn't. But if he was for whatever reason, he just has to chill out.
'I mean he has everything you could possibly want in the world…money, power, fame, a beautiful wife and talent. He has to pull back.
'I'd like to think this was all a misunderstanding. But if this was the reason, to be where he is and to be that insecure, it is mind boggling to me.'
Stanulis said he had worked around 15 days this year for Kanye - ten in February at fashion week and five last week for the Met Gala, both in New York City.
During his New York Fashion Week stint, he was told to keep away from Kim after Kanye had seen him speaking to her.
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