As a finalist on the popular HGTV reality competition cable television show “Design Star”, Mikey Verdugo has been enjoying his 15 minutes of fame. But for the hunky Hollywood, Florida police officer, those fifteen minutes have been extended and turned into some unwanted notoriety thanks to the recent revelation that he starred in a gay bondage movie.

With his pouty lips, bulging biceps and affable personality, the 34-year-old Davie, Florida resident had become a fan favorite among the interior design show’s female viewers and more than a few of the heterosexually challenged male viewers. “He’s extremely telegenic,” observed James Bolosh, HGTV’s head of programming.   

In the past two months photos of Verdugo showing off his buff body, power tool in hand, were featured in fluff pieces for both the south Florida gay bar magazine 411 and the region’s most prominent printed gay weekly, Express Gay News.  While Verdugo’s accompanying interview with Express Editor and former reality star Dan Renzi, himself no stranger to scandal, never addressed Verdugo’s sexuality, numerous ads and calendar listings  promoting Mikey Verdugo viewing parties at area gay bars, prominently displayed in those same publications, and numerous reported Verdugo ‘sightings’ at gay dance clubs, surely gave pause to anyone wondering. 

Any pretense about Verdugo being straight all but evaporated when a gay porn website posted side-by-side photos of the tattooed Verdugo and a much younger “Jeremy Wess”, the stage name used by Verdugo when he allegedly appeared in the hardcore gay bondage video “Rope Rituals”.   

The video jacket of “Rope Rituals” describes the action found within the adult film, as follows: “Stunningly beautiful Jeremy Wess serves Master Chris McKenzie while tightly bound.  Jeremy’s ritual includes being hogtied, bound tightly to the chair, and spread-eagled.  Discipline is enforced throughout with the whip.” Because GaySoFla serves an intergenerational gay audience the editors have elected not to print the more sexually explicit aspects of the synopsis. 

The July 16, 2008 issue of The Miami Herald reported that Verdugo gathered with friends and family at the Davie, FL home of his cousin, Victor Mendez on Sunday night to watch his ‘unceremonious dismissal' from “Design Star” because of his less than impressive hosting skills.  The show’s winner is awarded their own design show on HGTV.  

“I’m the Daughtry of Design Star,” Verdugo told The Miami Herald, referring to the American Idol contestant who also finished fourth, but who went on to enjoy a more successful pop career than his fellow Idol challengers.  Upon hearing the news of his brief blue movie career, most people are thinking Verdugo is  more akin to American Idol’s David Hernandez or Crazy James from television’s  Big Brother, both who had to deal with gay scandals uncovered by web sleuths

According to a July 17, 2008 Miami Herald article written and posted by reporter Steve Rothaus on the daily’s gay blog, Hollywood police have put the patrol officer on leave until its determined whether the person appearing in the video is actually Verdugo. 

“Verdugo has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of a fact-finding Internal Affairs Investigation,” said Hollywood police spokesman Lt. Manny Marino, as quoted in the Herald story.