Ted Pryor was hired to work with Elvis Presley as his bodyguard on his final tour of 1977. Pryor was a world middleweight kickboxing champion—who was refereed by Chuck Norris, Roberto Duran, and Don Wilson—and this was why Elvis hired him
He recalled being excited about landing the position on Elvis’ team, as he could relate to the Rock ‘n’ Roll king’s love for the martial arts in his adolescent and young adult years. At the time, Pryor was training Florida law enforcement, FBI, and DEA personnel on self-defense when Elvis’ offer came up.
Ted Pryor reveals why Elvis Presley didn’t like to be touched
Pryor shared that Elvis got quite heavy in the months leading up to his death, and because of this, he hated being touched because he would get hot and sweaty. His weight gain did not keep the ladies away, as they would still try to get to him on stage while Pryor and his team of bodyguards fended them off.
Pryor spoke in detail about dealing with female fans who tried to touch Elvis, noting that they would have to chokehold around their waist and lift them off to the floor carefully. A lady once tried to choke Pryor with a scarf Elvis had handed her during one of his final tour concerts.
Ted Pryor said Elvis Presley was sour toward women
Although Elvis treated Pryor and the junior bodyguards nicely, he was sour towards women because he lost his mother and the love of his life, Priscilla Presley (to divorce). Elvis was in much pain in the months leading up to his death, and his final performance at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana, proved it.
He struggled to give a good show and could hardly stand up, but sang his heart out regardless. He was sweaty, swollen, and overweight, looking like a shadow of his prime years. Weeks after the performance, Elvis was pronounced dead after suffering a heart attack in his bathroom at Graceland.