What Happened to Chippendales and Does It Still Exist?

Welcome to Chippendales is the most recent true-crime collection on Hulu you don’t want to overlook.

The collection, airing each Tuesday on the platform, follows the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of Steve Banerjee, the founding father of Chippendales.

Chippendales was established by Banerjee in 1979 and was the primary all-male stripping dance troupe within the U.S. to change into a profitable enterprise enterprise. He had bought Destiny II, a failing West Los Angeles bar, in 1975 and renamed it Chippendales, the place particular nights that includes male dancers strictly for ladies, turned an enormous hit.

Banerjee teamed up with Emmy-winning choreographer Nick De Noia and Chippendales turned a success, opening golf equipment in New York, Dallas, and Denver and sending troupes to tour internationally.

However, in 1993, embroiled in competitors and jealousy, Banerjee’s Chippendales empire crumbled round him. Facing 26 years in jail on tried arson, racketeering, and murder-for-hire prices, Banerjee took his personal life on October 23, 1994.

Newsweek has every little thing it is advisable to learn about Chippendales and if it nonetheless exists immediately.

Warning, there could also be spoilers about Welcome to Chippendales beneath.

What Happened To Chippendales?

In 1987, Chippendales hit headlines for extremely sinister causes.

Banerjee employed Ray Colon, a former Palm Springs police officer, and lounge room entertainer to homicide Chippendales present producer De Noia. Colon, in flip, employed a person named Gilberto Rivera Lopez to hold out the killing.

De Noia was shot lifeless in 1986 by a person posing as a messenger at his midtown Manhattan workplace on April 7, 1987. He was 46 years outdated.

At the time, Banerjee and De Noia had gone their separate methods, typically clashing over their artistic variations. De Noia had left Banerjee to start out up a Chippendales tour and reside present below the group Chippendales Universal, which was more and more widespread in New York City.

The pair had agreed on a deal that had been written on the again of a serviette, with De Noia receiving 50 p.c of the income from the touring Chippendales. When Banerjee realized the profitable success of the tour, he turned annoyed.

For years, Banerjee wasn’t linked to De Noia’s homicide, however in 1993, every little thing modified.

In 1990 and 1991, Banerjee plotted to kill Michael Fullington, a former Chippendales dancer, and choreographer, and two different ex-Chippendales dancers, Read Scot and Steve White. They have been then a part of the rival dance troupe Adonis who have been touring within the U.Ok.

The murder-for-hire plot was uncovered when a person, named “Strawberry” by the authorities, knowledgeable the FBI he had been employed by Banerjee.

The FBI was led to De Noia’s killer, Colon, who finally started to cooperate as an informant and managed to safe Banerjee’s confession for plotting to homicide Fullington, Scot, and White, in addition to planning De Noia’s loss of life.

Banerjee was additionally accused of three arson makes an attempt, resulting in minor injury at two competitor bars: Moody’s Disco in Santa Monica in 1979 and the Red Onion Restaurant & Bar in Marina del Rey in 1985. He had deserted the third try on one other rival bar.

Banerjee pleaded responsible to tried arson, racketeering, and homicide for rent. He accepted a plea discount and was sentenced to 26 years in jail.

However, on October 23, 1994, just some hours earlier than he was as a consequence of be sentenced, Banerjee was discovered lifeless in his jail cell, having taken his personal life. He was 47 years outdated.

Following his loss of life, Banerjee’s spouse Irene inherited Chippendales, together with the cash, properties, and property related to it, experiences The Cinemaholic.

Irene Banerjee died from breast most cancers in February 2001.

Does Chippendales Still Exist Today?

Yes, Chippendales very a lot nonetheless exists immediately.

Billed as “a mantastic, sex-god, abs party that will make you lose your damn mind,” the Chippendales have a residency on the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The theater and lounge have been particularly constructed for the Chippendales on the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, costing $10 million.

Tickets begin at $49.95 and attain $149.95, in keeping with the official Chippendales web site.

Chippendales even have their annual Christmas calendar, which was began by Banerjee, and proceed to embark on excursions throughout the U.S. and Europe.

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Chippendales took to Instagram to share exercise movies and digital zoom events, holding their followers and new audiences entertained.

Today, the dance troupe nonetheless wears the long-lasting Chippendales white coloration, shirt cuffs and black bow tie in a lot of their promo pictures.

Earlier this 12 months, Jersey Shore legend Vinny Guadagno joined the Chippendales in Las Vegas for a number of reside performances, displaying off his strikes (and physique) on stage.

A go to to the official Chippendales web site permits you to try the 18 Chippendale dancers earlier than you go to the Las Vegas present. If males with killer abs, strip teasing, and dancing are your factor, you’ll not be dissatisfied.

Sadly, the unique Chippendales nightclub, positioned in Los Angeles, shut down in 1998 after shedding its liquor license and fireplace allow.

However, the legacy of Chippendales nonetheless lives on as Steve Banerjee’s son, Bane, is a stripper, performing as part of the Magic Mike dance troupe, who have been impressed by Chippendales.

Newsweek has contacted Chippendales for remark.

Episodes of Welcome to Chippendales air each Tuesday on Hulu.