Two of Channing Tatum’s former coworkers claim that his new movie Magic Mike features their stories and now Tatum is trying to make money off of their lives. The two worked with Tatum as male strippers.
Tatum produced and stars in the new film. He claimed that the film is based on his real-life experiences as a dancer in Florida.
TMZ spoke to Thomas “Awesome” Austin and London Steele, who both said that the film is based off of their lives more than Tatum’s. Even the name was apparently stolen – “Magic Mike” was a name that Austin gave to another dancer.
Austin told TMZ that the group of dancers are like a “brotherhood.” He said that they are all happy for Tatum’s success, but feel betrayed that they were not involved in his newest film.
The dancers said that they took Tatum “under their wing” and taught him special moves like “the hot seat,” which was is featured in the film.
Austin said that Tatum was an “amateur” when they met and that Tatum “only danced for four months. How many events could have happened to him?”
Tatum’s rep had no comment.
Elite.
