Is Dave Hester getting fired from Storage Wars?

Storage Wars Dave Hester in a Darth Vader helmet

Storage Wars star Dave Hester is always bickering back and forth with his cast mates on the show, but now it’s the producers who he is at war with, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to end well for Dave. For the second season in a row, he has been left wondering if he will be asked back while the rest of the cast begins filming.

“He was not involved in the first few days of filming even though the rest of cast was,” a source tells Radar Online. “He thinks he may be fired.”

UPDATE – Apparently Dave Hester was indeed fired, and he has filed a lawsuit because of it! Check out Dave Hester’s allegations in the lawsuit, which include the “salting” of lockers, manipulation of bidding, obtaining unique objects to be placed in units from an antique business in exchange for featuring the business on the show, and show producers paying for plastic surgery for a female cast member “in order to create more ‘sex appeal’ for the show!”

The other cast members have yet to finalize their contracts, but the fact that they are all participating and Hester is not seems to reinforce the notion he may be the odd man out. “Dave was sent an option for the new season and then it was rescinded,” the source continues. “It’s turned into a big mess and some people on the show are convinced it is all going to end up in court.”

Radar says one big issue revolves around “accusations that the show’s bidding is rigged and that items are put in some lockers to be ‘discovered’ and add to the drama of the episode.” According to their source, “people close to the show talk about allegations the show is fake a lot and word has gotten back to the execs.” Hester is reportedly concerned he may be singled out and targeted because of the complaints.

Dave Hester and Jarrod Schulz on 'Storage Wars'

A&E may have hit a gold mine with this show, but according to the source, it’s no longer their #1 priority. “The network is more focused on some of its other hits right now,” they explain. “The cast is getting squeezed financially on some issues that are related to the show and the show has not resolved, even with taping beginning.”

Dave is clearly the villain on the show, but rooting against him is one of the main draws for fans. It will be curious to see if A&E will attempt to replace Darth Hester with another abrasive bidder if he doesn’t return for Season 4.

When asked about Hester’s status and the charges of the show being faked, A&E told Radar: “We have no comment.”

This isn’t the first time Dave has been left hanging when it comes to his contract. Earlier this year, prior to filming season 3, Dave’s signing was delayed after he claims A&E made him a bogus offer. “Right now I’m in negotiations with A&E and I would just hope they would get away from their unjust contract negotiations … the ball is really in their court,” he said at the time.