American Idol contestant David Hernandez has finally broken his silence on press reports that he performed nude, reportedly for a “mostly male” clientele, at a Phoenix, Arizona, strip club called Dick’s Cabaret. “You know, honestly, I’m here to sing,” Hernandez told EW.com at the Idol Top 12 party in West Hollywood on March 6. The singer appeared cool-headed and relaxed, despite the controversy. “I think America’s judging us all off of our voices right now. Obviously they were, because I’m still in the Top 12, thank God. So I’m not really concerned with what’s going on [with those reports]. I’m just focused on singing, because that’s what I’m here to do.” Look for a full report on all the Idol finalists later today on EW.com.
'Idol''s David Hernandez breaks silence on stripper reports: "I'm here to sing"
Featured Video
Realite: Reality TV sexes it up!
Unsubtle sexuality on ''SYTYCD'' and ''Top Model,'' sickening turns on ''DWTS,'' ''Top Chef,'' ''Runway''
More 
Today's Most Popular
-
Hollywood Insider '2012' kills, 'Precious' amazes at the weekend box office -
The Ausiello Files 'Fringe' exclusive: Watch a preview of this week's big Observer eppy NOW -
-
Hollywood Insider The Governors Awards: On the scene at Oscar's special honors
-
Special Coverage
'Twilight' Saga: 'New Moon'
It's almost here! Get all the latest news, photos, video, and fan commentary leading up to the big premiere
More
Comments (1-30) of 181 Add your comment
good for him! i was impressed by how he handled himself on the show last night. he was calm, upbeat and supportive of the ones that got cut. AND he had his groove on while sad little danny sang his swan song. i do like to watch him dance–fully clothed, of course
Come On! Is it really that important to be making a huge issue over. The guy is very talented, good lookin’ and takes great care of himself. The issue is his singing, how well he comes accross to the audience and what he make one feel when they listen to him. David has my vote!
I was actually surprised to see him go forward because I thought people wouldn’t vote for him as a result of this “scandal.” I’m glad that wasn’t the case. While I don’t think he should win, he definitely deserved to be in the top 6.
HUGE double standard here….Frenchie was kicked off for pictures she had taken FIVE year before idol, and this guy is a stripper up until idol starts, and HE gets to stay??? Nigel Barker should be ashamed….
Doesn’t even matter if poeople do vote for him. Per the credits at the end of the show, the “producers” have final say on who stays and who goes and who wins.
BRAVO! What if Madonna had been banned from singing because of her risque life?!
BRAVO! What if Madonna had been banned from singing because of her risque life?!
The guy creeps me out
David H is keeping his eye on the prize and good for him. I liked him from the start. He has a very good chance to go far. (but he’s so damned cute, why couldn’t he be straight?!
“Nigel Barker” LOL!
I don’t see the double standard. Frenchie was on a web site that was supposedly depicting underage girls and could be viewed by anyone with a computer while David was at a secure, adults only club. Big difference!
Good for him. I was worried he might not make it only because of all the news. David has a great voice and I can’t wait to hear more from him!
Maybe the double standard with Frenchie was a result of Frenchie’s pics being available online while this dude’s behavior is just in people’s memory. He is a good singe, if a bit cheesy. Then again, this is idol. Everyone is cheesy.
Cool headed and relaxed. That’s exactly what I see from him. He has a maturity I haven’t seen for awhile. He seems supportive of the others and looks like he’s having a good time during the shows. The guy has the whole package. Voice, looks, and he presents himself very well. Best of luck David. You have an amazing voice.
Considering Nikki McKibben also stripped prior to American Idol and was allowed to stay, there is no double standard
Frenchie îs a good point, but Nigel Lythgoe (Barker??) has said they learned from that situation. It’s why they did not disqualify Antonella Barba last year — let the public decide. As for the bit about producers deciding who stays and who goes; it helps to actually read the credits. It says the producer have the discretion to disqualify a contestant, just like any other reality show. Gawd.
What’s all the fuzz about a former stripper wanting to succeed in the entertainment biz? Hello, has anyone heard of the movie “Juno” and Oscar winner Diablo Cody? Better stop you self-righteous people. And to borrow Chris Crocker’s line, leave David alone!
Seems like every year some “dirt” is found on some of the contestants. Last year it was Antonella Barba. Three years ago it was that Bo Bice had been busted for pot possession. So long as the Idolists are open about their pasts to the producers of the show, I’ve no beef with them going on stage. Hernandez doesn’t strike me as a finalist, but he’s obviously talented enough to have made the top 12. Hopefully his new career as a singer will mean he won’t have to work as an exotic dancer anymore, and I’m sure he’s as happy about that thought as anyone else.
In what universe does “I’m not talking about this” get called breaking the silence? He’s stonewalling. If he did, and if he’s gay, then stop pretending. If he’s straight and was “gay-for-pay”, I admire his acting ability.
I totally agree with Randy. There is a HUGE difference between a legal, adults-only strip club and a skanky web site that featured illegal, disgusting kiddie porn. Therefore, I think Frenchie should have been kicked off, whereas David should stay.
Wasn’t Frenchie into hard core porn pictures? Big difference between than and stripping. . . .
What does being a stripper matter? People do it to make a good living, and if it doesn’t bother them, why should it bother us? I personally wouldn’t go to a strip club, but I wouldn’t throw David out of bed, either.
I like his singing. Good enough for me.
It’s not like he’s even going to win. The producers wouldn’t allow that to happen.
So, David…I got some singles…
Ok, I have had enough of hearing that it’s unfair that David gets to stay because Frenchie was kicked off. Two wrongs don’t make a right, people! Obviously, the AI execs have learned their lesson and realized that they did the wrong thing by kicking her off. (As made obvious by the fact that people are STILL bringing it up.) Obviously they don’t want the bad PR again. Regardless of why they allowed him to stay, it was the right thing to do!
Maybe david hernandez is sleeping with the producers & giving them nude lap dances 2 stay on the show. I would do that. Frenchie was kicked off cuz she did porn str8 & simple. David at least did it in the privacy of a club. Bravo big Penil David Hernandez. Literally Big Penile David.
He did not address the fact that he is a gay pervert.
So happy he made top 12, he honestly deserves it. The guy can sing!!! Stripper past? Makes it all the more interesting!
I think David has a great voice, and that’s what it should be a bout, however why deny what he did when there is clear proof (pictures, reports, etc) that he did it. Right now I’d put him in the top 6 most talented though.
if I remember the correctly, the Frenchie controversy involved a web site which, although all models were older than 18, catered to viewers interested in models who looked and dressed younger. It wasn’t a matter of doing provocative modeling, it was the nature of the web site. There still may be a doulbe standard, but I think AI could make a case there is a difference.
To Tom Strong: Gay aren’t perverts. Stop your ignorance and homophobia and learn that the world is full of people who are different than you. Welcome to the new millennium.
For every performance there is an audience! I don’t see what the big deal is. Why make a scandal out of a nonissue. I bet the ones who are making the biggest deal out of this are the ones who would really like to see what else he can do besides sing! Tom Strong…it’s people like you that need to focus on his singing, not his personal life…get over yourselves!!!