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American Idol Contestant Worked as Male Stripper
Tuesday March 4, 2008

David Hernandez attends the American Idol Season 7's Top 24 Party at The Day After Club on February 14, 2008 in Los Angeles, CA.
Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Another American Idol season, another contestant's dirty past revealed.

David Hernandez‚ a 24-year-old finalist from Glendale, Arizona, once worked as a stripper at Dick's Cabaret, appearing fully nude and giving lap dances to the club's "mostly male" clientele, the Associated Press reports.

"He had the look and the type that people like, so he made pretty good money here," club manager Gordy Bryan tells the AP.

Hernandez — who never sang at the club — worked there for three years until last September. "He never renewed his licensing with the state, so he hasn't
been on my roster since then," said Bryan, adding that he believes Hernandez quit to focus on Idol.

Rumors of his stripper past — along with photos of a scantily clad Hernandez working as a bartender at a gay club — first surfaced on Idol fan site VoteForTheWorst.com.

Still no word on whether Hernandez will be be given the boot.

In 2003, Frenchie Davis was disqualified for appearing topless on an adult Web site. But Antonella Barba remained on the show last year even though racy photos of her hit the Internet.

Hernandez is set to perform with the other male contestants on tonight's show.

Click here to see the worst Idol contestants of all time.

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Posted by Alissa R at 10:04 am ET Permanent Link | 52 Comments
Categories: American Idol | American Idol | American Idol Sex Scandals

52 Comments

11:16 AM TexasMade Says:

6:11- I agree with you! I really don't care if he wants to be an entertainer, whether that's singing or shaking his bare bottom on gay men BUT when you step on a FAMILY show that is watched by millions of little boys and girls, I don't think you want your kids looking up to or admiring a man who danced (or dances?) nude on a gay men. That's all I'm saying.

Should he get a shot at a record deal? absolutely!
Should he represent American Idol as an ex-stripper? Probably not!

10:20 PM Anonymous Says:

Really!!?? He was said to have a personal account on a Luxury online service M e e t R i c h. c o m for successful and celebs singles with his hot pictures and blog there. Quite a few hot girls and ladies wrote to him.

8:07 PM Anonymous Says:

gay

7:54 PM Anonymous Says:

He may be gay and he may be a stripper, at least he is staying in the entertainment field. We have politicians in Washington who claim to be straight and "morally" correct that act on an anti-gay agenda, yet get their kicks having gay sex in public restrooms or have sex with prostitutes in Louisiana. David should follow the examples of Congress and stay with his job, Idol. Who cares what his other talents are? As Simon always says, "this is a singing competition," not Mr. Christain Conservative USA. He is a great singer and it would be a wonderful justice to have the gay community rally behind him by voting him into the finals! Go David!

6:11 PM anonymous Says:

This article failed to mention that he worked at this club for 3 solid years and he only quit when he got involved with Idol last September. He danced in people's laps, totally naked. This is way beyond what Frenchie did. If they let him slide, she could even sue them. It wouldn't be fair or right.

AI is a family show. Kids and their parents watch it together. If he wants to be a nude stripper almost-prostitute (lap dances are very close folks), that's fine, he shouldn't try out for something like Idol.

I imagine he lied on his application and pre-interviews to get on the show. Just like Corey and Frenchie liked on theirs. That alone gives AI reason to let him go.

It's kind of sad that so many of you have no morals and don't care about anything. Why don't you go hang out in a strip club and see what really goes on there. It's not just dancing and he didn't do it just a few times.

He can't have his cake and eat it too. You can't have everything in life. He made his choice to do what he did, but that limits what else he can do in life, as many people do draw the line somewhere.

4:42 PM Anonymous Says:

Well I think many staight people have worked in gay industry before due to money. We have a gay bar that Ihave been to for a bachelorett party and the bouncer said many of the dancers workers were straight and very common.

And maybe Carly got married sicne her contract and not like thy are keeping any secrets on her contract so no way is she cheating.

Not sure why David would get the boot unless he didnt reveal his past job.

4:19 PM Randa Says:

This is really funny stuff..

Gotta start watching Idol again!!! LOL!!

Thanks for the Giggles guys!!! :P

3:42 PM Anonymous Says:

Debra GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3:30 PM Anonymous Says:

PLEASE NOTE: This comment of mine below has nothing to do with the following story so please feel free to skip ahead.

First of all, I've been looking for a contact address for US Weekly so I could address them personally, but NO LUCK so far -- if anyone has that information and would like to send it along that would be great!

What I want to do is say a huge THANK YOU to the people at US Weekly. For the past couple of days I have noticed there hasn't been any negative slander towards Angelina Jolie and her children and I don't believe that everyone just decided to all stop at the same time. It would be great to believe it, but . . . well, no.

I think that what is happening is that US has decided to put their foot down and say, enough really is enough! Whether it was legal advice or just a cool humanitarian thing to do I don't care. It doesn't matter.

If this turns out to be true and a week from now I haven't read any death threats to the babies, I actually believe I may begin to nuy every weekly issue. I do believe I can talk a few friends into it too.

Fabulous work US Weekly!

3:30 PM Jeremy P Says:

wow, what a shocker lol
Jeremy lesser idols have fallen~~~

2:48 PM Anonymous Says:

If he did make porn, it would be gay porn. hehe

2:44 PM Anonymous Says:

SO WHAT? He did what he had to do to make a living and put a roof over his head and food on his table. it's not like he was making porn.

2:30 PM Anonymous Says:

I don't get what the big deal is about Carly. I don't think she's a very good singer. How did she even get a recording contract? And I agree, how is that fair??

2:24 PM Anonymous Says:

Maybe people should look at Carly Smithson...She has a contract under the name Carly Hennessy!!!! Its not fair!! She's a cheater..

2:17 PM TexasMade Says:

1:56 Anon...I had to literally get out of my seat and go pee because I was laughing so hard. I know that's too much information but your comment was too funny!

1:56 PM Anonymous Says:

Dancing naked in a men's strip club is pretty much the gayest thing you can possibly do. Sooo, David Hernandez HAS to be gay. Nothing wrong with it if he is. I'm just sayin...

1:54 PM Anonymous Says:

TexasMade - I never got the gay vibe from David Archuleta either, but the Flashdance thing somebody mentioned does make you wonder! I agree with you about Amanda. I wouldn't be surprised if she is, too. No way is Jason Castro gay. Unless my gaydar is way off, which is possible I guess.

1:46 PM TexasMade Says:

"I have no gaydar so I never even though David Archuleta might be gay. Then he described in a side interview (on the show) how excited he was about making it to the top 24 and said "and I was like [singing] "What a Fee-ling!!" Yikes. No straight guy sing-quotes Flashdance like that."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

My gaydar is usually pretty good and I didn't even pick that one up! That is hilarious! I've NEVER EVER heard a straight guy sing Flashdance quotes. LOL!

1:42 PM Anonymous Says:

1:35 - LMAO!! Good point! =)

1:41 PM TexasMade Says:

Britz- It doesn't really matter, I was just wondering. Ya know, for shiits and giggles.

Anon 1:17- Yeah, Colton did seem gay. He was such a sweetie though. Seemed so shy and calm. I'm not the only one who thought that about Alexandrea! See! I did get the lesbian vibe from her...I also get the lesbian vibe from Amanda. My husband said that he thinks David Archuleta is gay but I just don't see it, do you? Danny is the "loud & proud" contestant this year but I do love him, he's out there! Jason Castro is NOT gay...that, I cannot believe. He doesn't even appear to be that way, some of you may disagree because of his hair but if that's the only reason why he'd be accused then I cannot believe that. Being that David Hernandez danced at a gay bar completely nude...I have to at least wonder if he's bisexual. Maybe. David Cook might be but I don't know...if he is then he pulled a T.R. Knight on me!

1:39 PM goin-postal Says:

I say disqualify him! otherwise this is just another example of a double standard!

1:35 PM Anonymous Says:

I have no gaydar so I never even though David Archuleta might be gay. Then he described in a side interview (on the show) how excited he was about making it to the top 24 and said "and I was like [singing] "What a Fee-ling!!" Yikes. No straight guy sing-quotes Flashdance like that.

1:33 PM Jennifer Says:

9:33 What is your deal with posing as me when I didnt even say anything?

Hi Chantal. Still @ school. I can contact USweekly but not Yahoo.......

1:17 PM Anonymous Says:

TexasMade - I'm pretty sure that Colton was gay. And I think David Cook might be. Obviously Danny is. And given David Hernandez's previous career choice, odds are he is, too. As far as the females go, didn't Alexandrea seem kinda lesbo? Just my guesses. I could be wrong. ;)

1:10 PM Britz1#Phan Says:

Danny is gay for sure. David Archuleta might be gay but its still too soon to tell. I also though Alexandrea Lushington was gay. Jason Castro appears to be gay but I don't think he is. Why does it matter?

12:51 PM Anonymous Says:

11:14 AM Anonymous - give them time. There will be naked pictures of this guy posted soon. When you make a living getting naked, eventually it catches up to you. And just for the record, there are LOTS of ways to "make a living" besides taking your clothes off in a gay bar!

12:47 PM TexasMade Says:

"American Idol is going to hell. The contestants just keep getting weirder and weirder. Plus, a bunch of them have already recorded albums, sang back-up for famous people, etc. Stupid."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

ROTFLMAO! AI is going to hell...ha ha, that's funny.

12:44 PM TexasMade Says:

Quick question? Who do you think is seriously gay this season? I'm not asking this to be rude or anything...I just argue with my husband over this. He thinks David Archuleta is gay and I just won't believe it. I know Danny is but who else do you think is gay?

By the way, there is nothing wrong with being gay...that's your choice. Just had to say that.

12:40 PM TexasMade Says:

"Dude has a bad case of the gay face anyway"

Seriously...that was effin' funny...I've got tears streaming down my face I'm laughing so hard! Love it.

12:33 PM Anonymous Says:

12:01 have you ever been to a strip club? There are ones where the dancers remove all of their clothes...the strip clubs that don't sell alcohol (depending on the rules of the state).

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