Plot Synopsis

SECRETS OF THE CHIPPENDALES MURDERS is a four-part documentary series that goes beyond the bright lights into a dark world of drugs, arson, a love triangle and a murder. Chippendales was a nightclub that aimed to allure and please women with its scantily clad male dancers and vivacious music, and quickly advanced toward a pop culture phenomenon, until it came crashing down. Through exclusive interviews, never-before-seen crime scene video and declassified FBI surveillance audio, the special unravels the hidden tale of how sex, jealousy, arson, hefty-bags filled with cash and mafia shakedowns all led up to one of the most outrageous murders in American history.

Launching its first show featuring male strippers in 1979, Chippendales became an overnight sensation with lines wrapping around the block. Creator Steve Banerjee immediately recognized the growth potential Chippendales had, thus bringing on Emmy-winning TV producer and choreographer Nick DeNoia to help him expand. When Banerjee signed an ill-advised contract on the back of a napkin that gave DeNoia rights to the touring productions of the show, the two men were set off on a collision course that would destroy the multi-million-dollar empire and ultimately cost DeNoia his life. However, Banerjee's thirst for power didn't end with DeNoia's death. With rival nightclubs being set afire and the attempted murders of two ex-Chippendales employees, the FBI was faced with trying to bring Banerjee to justice and embarked upon a sting operation that spanned two continents.

Former dancers, producers, investigators and family members including Eddy Prevot, Hodari Sababu, Mike Waldron, Eric Gilbert, Christian Banerjee, and Tom and Cathy DeNoia share their stories of what being part of the Chippendales phenomenon was really like, and the heartbreak they suffered when it all came crashing down. For the first time ever, viewers will hear an exclusive interview from hitman Louie Lopez's defense attorney, Frank Rothman, who shares a detailed play-by-play of the killer's rationale, up until the minute he pulled the trigger. Additional exclusive interviews are featured with former Chippendales' associate producer Jay D. Schwartz, Banerjee's best friend Howard Metz as well as from DeNoia's secret lover, David Arad and Arad's ex-boyfriend David Shrem who got mistakenly caught up in the search for DeNoia's killer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Monday, April 4, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT, A&E premiered "The Naked Truth," the finale of SECRETS OF THE CHIPPENDALES MURDERS. The FBI teams up with down-and-out actor Ray Colon who leads federal agents on an international manhunt for the man behind Nick De Noia's murder. However, even after the mystery is solved and the killer is behind bars, the show is far from over. Soon to follow is a shocking death and the discovery of tens of millions of dollars secretly hidden in Switzerland.