The Curse of the Chippendales: The Chippendales are known worldwide for their male strip show, characterized by their good looks, muscular bodies, and seductive dance moves. However, behind the glamorous facade lies a dark history of tragedy and misfortune, giving rise to what is known as the Curse of the Chippendales. The Curse is believed to have started in the late 1980s when the founder of the Chippendales, Somen Banerjee, was found murdered in a plot orchestrated by his business partner, Nick DeNoia. This shocking event set the stage for a series of unfortunate incidents that would plague the Chippendales for years to come. In the years following Banerjee's murder, several Chippendale performers, known as "Chippendales Men," met untimely and often tragic ends. Some died under mysterious circumstances, while others succumbed to drug addiction or committed suicide.
Witch prophet
Witch Prophet is a queer, East African, singer-songwriter, as well as the President and Co-CEO of Heart Lake Records. She provides her fans with a soundscape of vocal layers, loops, raps, and harmonies on a bed of hip-hop, jazz, and soul-inspired beats produced by her wife and business partner SUN SUN. Think Erykah Badu meets Lauryn Hill meets Portishead. She finds depth and connection in creating music as a portal for self-growth and discovery, as she navigates and better understands her cultural and queer identity.
She has shared the stage with and opened for acts like Sudan Archives, Tash Sultana, JPEGMAFIA, Lido Pimienta, CLIPPING, JELEEL!, Pierre Kwenders, Begonia, Shabazz Palaces, The Hallucination (fka A Tribe Called Red), SAMMUS, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and THEESatisfaction to name a few.
She has toured Europe independently twice; playing shows in Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Berlin, as well as performed at North American and European music festivals like: Montreal Jazz Festival, Black Women Rock, New Skool Rules, Soul Of Brooklyn, Allied Media Conference, Beloved Festival, SXSW, Vancouver Folk Fest, Luminato, Summerworks, Ottawa Capital Pride, Pride Toronto, Pop Montreal, Halifax Pop Explosion and so many more!
In March of 2020, Witch Prophet released her Ontario Arts Council funded sophomore LP “D.N.A Activation”. An ode to her Ethiopian and Eritrean ancestral roots, fusing Jazz, Hip-Hop, Soul and RnB with songs sung in English, Amharic, and Tigrinya. Co-produced by herself and her partner SUN SUN, praised by press and music lovers alike, DNA Activation was shortlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize. She has since released a deluxe edition of DNA Activation featuring remix tracks with rappers Stas THEE Boss and LATASHÁ. The video for her song Tesfay directed by Leah Vlemmiks was nominated for the 2021 Prism Prize and was an official selection at the 2021 Rhode Island International Film Festival as well as the 2021 SXSW Music Video awards. Tesfay was also nominated in the UKMVA’s Best International RnB/Soul video category alongside Beyoncé, Cardi B, Normani, The Weeknd, and Bryson Tiller.
On May 1st 2023, Witch Prophet released her deeply personal and intimate 3rd studio album ‘Gateway Experience’ produced by her wife and business partner SUN SUN via Heart Lake Records. Funded by Ontario Creates, Canada Council for the Arts and Radio Starmaker, ‘Gateway Experience’ is an 11 track, neo-soul/alternative r&b/ trip hop vibe with songs focusing on the connection between the human brain, dreams, seizures, god, and other worldly abilities. Gateway Experience was also nominated on the long list for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize.
“As a neurodivergent artist who struggles with focal seizures (Déjà vu, out of body experiences, lucid dreaming, memory loss etc) I feel like; sharing my experiences through my music is one of my paths to healing.” - Witch Prophet
EXCLUSIVE: Erykah Badu Pens Essay on Making Time for Joy in Your Life
"The wise woman knows instinctually that in order to truly realize herself she must be still," writes ESSENCE cover girl Erykah Badu. "She realizes that the ultimate human JOY we seek can only be found in the full acceptance of who we really are and not in the avatars we've created to define ourselves."
Warwick SaintTHE PARADIGM OF JOY
There’s this natural instinct we have as human beings. Regardless of our position, religion, color or kind, we all have a primal desire for immediate, and almost unwavering, JOY. Eventually, through the experience of events and circumstance, we learn that this desire just may be unreasonable and unnatural. We watch our emotions sway as we are affected and influenced by the energy around us. Our own resistance to “unpleasantness” restricts our movement.
In a self-medicated state, we start to become addicted to our pain. In some cases it even starts to define us. We wear masks to protect ourselves and alas lose sight of who we are. Drained physically, spiritually and emotionally, we become ill and left with very little energy to cope. Our service to others becomes exhausting. Our breathing becomes shallow. JOY seems so far. Now we are stuck in our own minds, filled with random thoughts and collected fears.
This place has become our world. We know we are imbalanced. Something must change. How do we portion our busy lives to give the proper attention to our inner beings; the part of us that, at its core, regulates our mental, emotional and vital wellness? Perhaps we change our state of being by taking a look inside and simply changing our perspective and perception.
BE STILL. OBSERVE. IDENTIFY. ACCEPT. ELIMINATE.
The wise woman knows instinctually that in order to truly realize herself she must be still. She must give up things that no longer evolve her by first identifying what they are. She realizes that the ultimate human JOY we seek can only be found in the full acceptance of who we really are and not in the avatars we’ve created to define ourselves. When she is fully present and can see her true self clearly, she realizes that the very need for JOY dissolves along with the need to resist pain. She replaces them with humility, for she now trusts the natural flow of life. She becomes one with the all.
It is in that very moment of complete acceptance where she is transformed. It is in that state of awareness that she expands and contracts and breathes life into her thoughts. She now knows that those thoughts become her reality. She has always known. She is
THE MEDICINE WOMAN.
THE WITCH DOCTOR.
THE FORTUNE TELLER.
THE WISDOM KEEPER.
We must remember that we are powerful beyond measure. Each obstacle we are faced with is another opportunity to use our power. It is a step toward our greatness. After all, we have asked to be great.
Pick up the August issue of ESSENCE to read more about Erykah Badu in Africa.
Witch Prophet
Witch Prophet is a queer, East African, singer-songwriter, and the Co-CEO of Heart Lake Records. She provides her fans with a soundscape of vocal layers, loops, raps, and harmonies on a bed of hip-hop, jazz, and soulinspired beats. Think Erykah Badu meets Lauryn Hill meets Portishead. She finds depth and connection in creating music as a portal for self-growth and discovery, as she navigates and better understands her cultural and queer identity.
She has shared the stage with and opened for acts like Lido Pimienta, Sudan Archives, Shabazz Palaces, The Hallucination (fka A Tribe Called Red), SAMMUS, Sean Leon, JPEGMAFIA, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and THEESatisfaction to name a few.
She has toured Europe independently twice; playing shows in Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Berlin, as well as performed at North American and European music festivals like: Montreal Jazz Festival, Black Women Rock, New Skool Rules, Soul Of Brooklyn, Allied Media Conference, Sappy Fest, Electric Eclectic, Summerworks, Ottawa Capital Pride, Pride Toronto, Pop Montreal, Halifax Pop Explosion and so many more!
In March of 2020, Witch Prophet released her Ontario Arts Council funded sophomore LP “D.N.A Activation”. An ode to her Ethiopian and Eritrean ancestral roots, fusing Jazz, Hip-Hop, Soul and RnB with songs sung in English, Amharic, and Tigrinya. Co-produced by herself and her partner SUN SUN, praised by press and music lovers alike, DNA Activation was shortlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize.
She has since released a deluxe edition of DNA Activation featuring remix tracks with rappers Stas THEE Boss and LATASHÁ. The video for her song Tesfay directed by Leah Vlemmiks was nominated for the 2021 Prism Prize and was an official selection at the 2021 Rhode Island International Film Festival as well as the 2021 SXSW Music Video awards. Tesfay was also nominated in the UKMVA’s Best International RnB/Soul video category alongside Beyoncé, Cardi B, Normani, The Weeknd, and Bryson Tiller.
Her newest video for her single Makda was released May 2021 and debuted on FADER.
Currently, Witch Prophet has her 3rd album ‘Gateway Experience’ due for release May 2023.
Some died under mysterious circumstances, while others succumbed to drug addiction or committed suicide. These incidents gave rise to speculation and rumors about a curse haunting those associated with the Chippendales. One of the most prominent deaths associated with the curse was that of dancer and choreographer, Nick DeNoia, the same person who plotted Banerjee's murder.
He was found murdered in his New York office in what appeared to be a mafia-style hit. This event further fueled theories about a curse surrounding the Chippendales. The curse extended beyond the performers themselves. Club owners and employees associated with the Chippendales also experienced misfortune. There were reports of bankruptcy, legal troubles, and even accidents among those involved in managing Chippendales franchises. While some skeptics dismiss the notion of a curse as mere coincidence, others remain convinced that there is something supernatural at play. The nature of the curse, its origins, and its alleged effects remain largely mysterious and unexplained. Despite the dark cloud of the curse, the Chippendales continue to attract audiences and maintain their popularity. However, the history of tragedy and misfortune surrounding the group serves as a grim reminder of the perils that can befall those involved in the world of show business. In conclusion, the Curse of the Chippendales is a haunting tale of tragedy and misfortune that has plagued performers, club owners, and employees associated with the male strip show. Whether one believes in the curse or not, it remains an intriguing part of the Chippendales' history, reminding us of the fragility and unpredictability of fame and success..
Reviews for "The Chippendales Curse: A Tale of Tragedy and Despair"
- John Doe - 1/5 rating - I was really disappointed with "Curse of the Chippendales". The storyline was weak and predictable, and the acting was mediocre at best. The supposed scares were more comical than anything, and I found myself bored throughout the entire movie. It felt like a low-budget film that was trying too hard to be a horror flick. I would not recommend wasting your time on this movie.
- Sarah Johnson - 2/5 rating - I had high hopes for "Curse of the Chippendales" given the intriguing concept, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The characters lacked depth, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The pacing was also a major issue. The movie dragged on for what felt like an eternity, and the few intense moments were quickly overshadowed by lengthy periods of nothingness. While the concept was interesting, the execution was lackluster, making it hard to fully enjoy the film.
- Mark Thompson - 2/5 rating - As a fan of horror movies, I was excited to watch "Curse of the Chippendales". However, I was left disappointed. The plot felt cliché and unoriginal, offering no surprises or twists. The scares were cheap jump scares that failed to leave a lasting impact. The acting was subpar, with flat performances from the entire cast. Overall, the movie felt like a wasted opportunity to deliver a truly thrilling horror experience. I would not recommend it to fellow horror enthusiasts.