Mikey V                                                                            Jeremy Wess   

  There's been some buzz this week about a current contestant on a reality show and his past as a performer in gay bondage erotica. On HGTV's Design Star one of the contestants is sexy and well-built Mikey V (also known as Michael Verdugo). He's one of the final five in the competition to find this cable channel's next star--whoever wins will get a contract for their own show like previous sexy winner David Bromstad. Unfortunately for Mikey V he's got some controversy in his past that may jeopardize his chances to win---he did some gay adult film work for Tom "Ropes" McGurk in the video Rope Rituals.

 It was first discovered that Michael Verdugo was an LAPD officer who filed a gay discrimination lawsuit against the department. Then, eagle-eyed bloggers caught a few amateur boxing pics of Verdugo and matched his tattoos up with Jeremy Wess who played the bondage bottom in the aforementioned McGurk flick back in '96. Within a few days of being discussed on gay blogs, the story has reached the forums on the Design Star website. Many of those posting comments don't seem to care about this semi-lurid past of popular contestant Mikey V although reportedly the cable channel is looking into the matter. 

  How HGTV proceeds with this whole matter is going to be interesting, to say the least. If Mikey V winds up being one of the finalists can they really risk a lawsuit by disqualifying him because of this past indiscretion?
After all former pornstar Marcus Iron & COLT model Pete Kuzak have appeared on the network in their current capacities as working designers and no one seemed to bat an eye. Big Brother 9 and Step It Up & Dance both had former online performers in James and Michael respectively and they certainly weren't tossed aside. Even Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency had Rodrigo a former pornster and she kept him on. In fact, he's since gone back to do another video! Then there's Aaron "AJ" Savvy.  We're putting the final touches on our interview with him and in it you'll learn that the right attitude about one's past can quell controversy. 
  
  Lawsuits aside, should it matter that Mikey V has this on his "resume" from 12 years ago?? Realistically, won't this boost ratings for the Design Star show no matter if he wins or not?  And if he wins outright then this certainly will have more people watching, right? Although using racks and chains and leather in his designs might be a little boring after awhile, eh? Whatever happens we're rooting for Mikey V during AND after the show is over. Let's hope he uses this controversy to his advantage.