Criticized Men's Conference Showman Responds to Mark Driscoll, Says He Is a Christian

Driscoll, who went up on stage to preach after Magala’s performance, argued at the time that a "Jezebel spirit opened our event.”

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“The same thing that’s used in a strip club for women who have the Jezebel spirit to seduce men,” Driscoll said. “In front of that was a man who ripped his shirt off like a woman does in front of a pole at a strip club.”

However, Driscoll’s message was interrupted by conference host and James River Church’s lead pastor John Lindell, who could be heard yelling, "You're out of line Mark… you’re done." Driscoll then exited the stage but later returned, apologized for his remarks and publicly reconciled with Lindell on stage.

According to Church Leaders, Magala later issued a statement online explaining he felt “compelled to clarify the context and intention behind my specialty act.”

“My performance, which some have controversially likened to inappropriate entertainment, is deeply rooted in a historical and cultural tradition that dates back over 1,200 years and has since become a respected discipline showcasing human strength and agility,” Magala said in a statement.

Magala continued, “Pastor Mark Driscoll’s remarks about my act failed to recognize the difference between a male strip tease and a stunt performance rooted in art and sport.”

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“Only an uninformed person would draw a comparison between my act and an inappropriate performance. I feel that this danger act is perfect for the Stronger Men’s Conference,” he said. “It provides inspiration to the audience and permission for them to reach new heights of what’s possible in their lives.”

Magala also noted that his mentor, Dan Meyer, who leads Sword Swallowers Association International, is a member of Driscoll’s church.

“It wasn’t a ‘raunchy male pole dance’ or ‘stripper’ performance,” Meyer said. “Alex is the top of his field as a master in the classical 12th century martial arts acrobatic discipline called Chinese Pole acrobatics which he performed at the Olympics.”

“This is WAY different than a male stripper. It’s like comparing classical ballet with striptease. No comparison. The convention hired Alex because the theme was ‘strong men’ and Alex is the best at what he does!,” Meyer added.

Magala concluded his statement by stating he is a Christian and has “always aimed to use my talents to inspire and entertain audiences in a way that respects my faith.”

“The act in question was designed to be a celebration of physical human achievements and is aligned with the James River Church’s purpose in bringing others into the light of God,” he said. “It’s essential to approach such performances with an understanding of their intention rather than reducing them to mere entertainment.”

Magala, a two-time Guinness World Record holder, has been a top performer on America’s Got Talent: The Champions and Britain’s Got Talent. He is the winner of Russia’s Got Talent, and a 2014 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony performer. He also has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

He previously worked in both women’s and gay nightclubs as a pole dancer. Despite his Christian profession, Magalas Facebook page still features him in sexually provocative poses and performing at a strip club.

Image credit: @AlexMagala on X

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.