David Hernandez, one of the contestants that fight to win the “American Idol” show was found out to not have a very decent past. The 24-year-old Glendale, Ariz. Resident used to be a stripper in Dick’s Cabaret in Phoenix, according to USA Today. However, the producers of “American Idol” have decided not to judge the young man's racy past and to permit him to remain in the contest for as long as the public wants.

Gordy Bryan, manager of the Cabaret in Phoenix, told The Associated Press that David used to appear nude and to perform lap dances for a “mostly male” crowd, for three years until last September. Moreover, Bryan adds that he believes that Hernandez quit his former job in order to participate on “Idol.”

However, Ken Warwick, executive producer of “American Idol,” told TVGuide.com that he knew nothing about the contestant’s past before the news report, but “We’re never judgmental about what people do to earn a living. They’ve got to put food in people’s mouths.” Moreover, on last week’s broadcast the judges were quite impressed of Hernandez’s performance of “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”

According to USA Today, Marisa Ronstadt, a vocalist who used to work with Hernandez in an Arizona band said “He’s the sweetest guy. It’s like they’re trying to create a scandal. It shouldn’t matter. What’s in the past is in the past. His talent is what is important.”

This is not the first time a scandal appears because of what “American Idol” contestants used to do. Some of the contestants remained, but others didn’t because of the gravity of their situation. For example, in Season 1 Nikki McKibbin remained even though she used to dance in a strip club. However in Season 4 Donnie Williams was dismissed from the show because of DUI arrest during the “Idol” season.