Sylvester Stallone Enlists Navy SEALs to Prep Daughters for Move to NYC

Sylvester Stallone, Sistine Rose Stallone, Jennifer Flavin Stallone, Sophia Rose Stallone, and Scarlet Rose Stallone attend the LA Premiere of Entertainment Studios' "47 Meters Down Uncaged" at Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, Calif., on Aug. 13, 2019. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Sylvester Stallone has always been known for his protective nature, especially when it comes to his daughters. As they embarked on a move to New York City, Mr. Stallone took extraordinary measures to ensure their safety, going as far as hiring Navy SEALs to provide them with self-defense training.

In an interview with the New York Post ahead of the second season premiere of “The Family Stallone,” Sophia and Sistine Stallone opened up about the intense experience. Sistine revealed that while the training footage was edited to appear “nice and fluffy” for the show, in reality, it was grueling. “Sophia and I got ... whooped by these guys,” she said, emphasizing the rigorous nature of the sessions.

Reflecting on their upbringing, Sophia echoed her sister’s sentiments, describing their daily routine as intense and disciplined. “It was a lot of sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, clean and jerks,” she said, highlighting the military-esque self-defense training they were accustomed to.

The Stallone sisters also recounted a memorable scene from their reality television series, “The Family Stallone,” in which they were instructed to chase a chicken, reminiscent of a scene from Mr. Stallone’s iconic film “Rocky II.” “Chasing a chicken sounds like a fun game,” Mr. Stallone said, emphasizing the agility and patience required. Sistine chimed in on the difficulty of chasing the chicken during training. “That is deceivingly hard,” she said, admitting to being humbled by the challenge.

Despite the girls having spent a year in New York City, the Stallone patriarch remains as vigilant as ever. “He’s like a classic, overprotective dad,” Sophia said, acknowledging her father’s perpetual concern for their safety. This sentiment was echoed by Scarlet Stallone, who emphasized that safety has always been paramount for Mr. Stallone.

Sophia mentioned that their mom, Jennifer Flavin Stallone, goes the extra mile by utilizing a location-tracking app for additional peace of mind.

The return of “The Family Stallone” is just around the corner, with the second season set to premiere on Feb. 21. Fans can look forward to seeing Mr. Stallone, along with his wife and daughters, back on screen for new episodes.

The docuseries debuted last May, with each episode offering an intimate glimpse into the lives of the Stallone family. Paramount+ reported that the first episode of the series shattered records, becoming the top original reality series premiere on the platform.

“The Family Stallone” captures Mr. Stallone in what he considers to be his most significant role yet: being a dad. Viewers follow the family’s journey as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of life in the spotlight, offering a unique perspective into the dynamics of one of Hollywood’s most iconic families.