Inside, the Chippendales’ murderous backstory is revealed, with “shocking crimes” behind world-famous strippers

The famous male dance group Chippendales has a dark backstory that has been the subject of various specials and series over the years.

A new Hulu series Welcome to Chippendales aims to uncover the shocking crimes behind the stripping empire in a “sprawling true crime saga.”

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Somen “Steve” Banerjee, played by Kumail Nanjiani in the new series, is a businessman and the founder of Chippendales.

Banerjee, an Indian-American immigrant, is responsible for creating the revue show, which features famous male dancers and stripteasers.

He was reportedly told that there was money to be made by showing off the male strippers, as seen in the series’ trailer.

So in 1979 he formed the dance group at his nightclub in Los Angeles.

Today, Chippendales is known for extravagant Broadway-style shows that still feature handsome male dancers.

But Banerjee’s story, which has been portrayed in various series and specials over the years, is riddled with crime and bloody allegations.

HITMEN EMPLOYED

As Chippendales’ success grew in the early 1980s, Banerjee hired choreographer Nick De Noia to assist him.

Together, the two put on a touring production of the revue and also opened a version at a club in New York City.

But Banerjee often clashed with De Noia and their relationship developed through the success of the touring revue show.

At this point, Banerjee reportedly hired his first hitman, Ray Colon, to attack De Noia.

Colon’s accomplice Gilberto Rivera Lopez allegedly shot and killed De Noia on April 7, 1987 in his New York office.

Banerjee would not be linked to the murder for years.

However, he would continue to use Colon on other hits, including one of three of his former dancers.

ADONIS DANCER

The three men had reportedly started their version of the show called Adonis, which Banerjee saw as competition.

So he again relied on Colon to deliver the punch.

But an FBI informant named “Strawberry” reported Colon after trying to get the informant to carry out the Adonis plot.

Colon allegedly provided “Strawberry” with the cyanide needed to kill the dancers.

He was arrested by the FBI and months later exposed Banerjee as the mastermind behind the assassination plot.

Banerjee eventually pleaded guilty to multiple crimes, including attempted murder, arson, and racketeering.

However, he was never convicted as he committed suicide in a holding cell.

In addition to Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, Andrew Rannells and Juliette Lewis, among others, appear in the series.

The Hulu series is scheduled to premiere on November 22nd.

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