Hot U.S. TV show "American Idol" has suffered another big sex scandal, after reports said semifinalist David Hernandez used to work as a nude dancer at male strip club. (Reuters, File Photo)

Hot US TV show "American Idol" has suffered another big sex scandal, after reports said semifinalist David Hernandez used to work as a nude dancer at male strip club.

Gordy Bryan, the manager of Dick's Cabaret in Phoenix, said Monday that Hernandez from Glendale, Ariz., had performed fully nude and gave lap dances to the club's mostly male clientele.

"He had the look and the type that people like, so he made pretty good money here," Bryan said.

A spokesperson for the show declined to comment on the report. But a "person close to the show" said on condition of anonymity that the show has no plans to remove Hernandez from the competition, according to an AP report.

The popular reality show has previously been hit by sex scandals. In 2003, semifinalist Frenchie Davis was dismissed from "Idol" because of her appearance on an adult website.

Last year, racy photos of another contestant Antonella Barba surfaced on the Internet, but she did continue on in the competition -- though thanks to discerning viewer voters, not for too long.

(Xinhua/Agencies March 5, 2008)