Christian Banerjee: The Son of Chippendales Founder and His Own Striptease Legacy

Christian Banerjee is the son of Somen “Steve” Banerjee, the founder of Chippendales, the world-famous male strip club and entertainment franchise. Christian, who is in his early 30s, has followed his father’s footsteps and become a male dancer and entrepreneur. He has launched his own male revue company, called Strippendales, and hopes to achieve the same international fame as Chippendales. But who is Christian Banerjee, and what is his relationship with his father and his legacy? Here are some facts about him and his story.

Early Life and Family Background

Christian Banerjee was born in the late 1980s or early 1990s to Steve Banerjee and his wife Irene. He has a sister, who is older than him by a few years. His father, Steve Banerjee, was an Indian immigrant who came to the United States in 1968 with only $8 in his pocket. He worked as a janitor, a gas station attendant, and a motel manager before he bought a nightclub in Los Angeles in 1976. He named it Destiny II and tried various gimmicks to attract customers, such as female mud wrestling, wet T-shirt contests, and male belly dancing.

In 1979, he partnered with Bruce Nahin, a law student and former actor, to create Chippendales, the first male strip club of its kind. They hired Nick De Noia, a Broadway choreographer and producer, to help them design and stage the show. De Noia also found a club for Chippendales in New York City and managed a touring show that became very popular across the country and abroad. Chippendales soon became a cultural phenomenon and a multimillion-dollar business, with millions of women flocking to see the muscular men in bow ties and cuffs.

However, Steve Banerjee became increasingly paranoid and jealous of De Noia’s success and influence over Chippendales. He also felt threatened by other competitors who tried to copy or challenge his brand. He resorted to various illegal and violent tactics to protect his empire, such as arson, extortion, bribery, and murder. In 1987, he hired a hitman to kill De Noia in his Manhattan office. He also plotted to kill several former Chippendales dancers and choreographers who had left his company or joined rival groups.

In 1993, he was arrested by the FBI after one of his associates turned informant and recorded him confessing to his crimes. He pleaded guilty to attempted arson, racketeering, and murder for hire in 1994. He faced 26 years in prison and the loss of his share in Chippendales. However, he never served his sentence because he committed suicide in his jail cell on October 23, 1994. He was 46 years old.

Christian Banerjee was only a child when his father died. He grew up without knowing much about him or his involvement in Chippendales. He told Vice that he only learned about his father’s dark side when he was 18 years old, after watching a documentary about him on TV. He said that he was shocked and confused by what he saw, but he also felt curious and intrigued by his father’s life story.

Career as a Dancer and Entrepreneur

Christian Banerjee inherited his father’s passion for dancing and entertainment. He started dancing at the age of 16 at house parties and clubs. He also took classes in hip hop, jazz, ballet, contemporary, salsa, and breakdancing. He said that dancing made him feel happy and free.

He decided to pursue dancing as a career after he graduated from high school. He moved to Las Vegas and auditioned for various shows and gigs. He landed a role in Thunder From Down Under, a popular Australian male revue show that performed at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino. He worked there for four years before he moved to New York City to join Hunk-O-Mania, one of the largest male strip franchises in the United States.

He also worked as a freelance dancer for private parties and events. He said that he enjoyed performing for women and making them feel good. He said that he earned up to $1,000 per night from tips alone.

In early 2020, he launched his own male revue company, called Strippendales. He said that he wanted to create a show that was different from Chippendales or other male strip shows. He said that he wanted to showcase more diversity, talent, creativity, humor, and interaction with the audience. He said that he wanted to make Strippendales more than just a show but an experience.

He said that he hoped to have the same international fame as Chippendales, but he also wanted to honor his father’s legacy in a positive way. He said that he felt a connection with his father through dancing and Chippendales, and he believed that his father would be proud of him and support him in his endeavors.

He said that he did not care about what people thought of his father or his career choice. He said that he loved his father and respected him for what he achieved. He said that he was not ashamed of being a male dancer or a stripper. He said that he was proud of who he was and what he did.

Personal Life and Future Plans

Christian Banerjee lives in Huntington Beach, California, with his girlfriend, who is also a dancer. He said that they met at a dance studio and fell in love. He said that she understood and supported him in his career and his goals.

He said that he planned to expand Strippendales to other cities and countries, and to create a TV show or a movie based on his company. He said that he also wanted to write a book about his life and his father’s life. He said that he wanted to share his story with the world and inspire others to follow their dreams.

He said that he was happy and fulfilled with his life and his career. He said that he had no regrets or resentments. He said that he was grateful for everything that he had and everything that he had been through.

He said that he was Christian Banerjee, the son of Chippendales founder and his own striptease legacy.

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