'The Devils Ride': Are the Laffing Devils real or fake?

The premiere of the new Discovery Channel reality series The Devils Ride has created quite a stir among viewers, raising one question in particular: Is this a real club, or one created specifically for television?

The new Discovery Channel reality series, The Devils Ride, is causing a lot of controversy among viewers. Some are adamant that the show could not be real; others are taking a more open approach, giving the show—and the Laffing Devils—a chance to prove themselves. Here on Huliq, many readers have chimed in with their opinions. An anonymous reader got the comment ball rolling on a recent article:

What respectable MC airs their Mc business with the world on national television? Also, if you listen and watch what goes on in the first airing, they contradict themselves relative to membership/tension etc. Lastly, the wives of the members go out for dinner in public with cameras rolling for national TV and they (or Prospect Charles) worry about some paparazzi taking pics of them? If you don't want your pic taken, why are you on TV? Also, I wonder if they realize that Red and White is the colors of another well known worldwide MC that has been around for over 50 years. I am curious to know if these TV bikers got permission to use those two colors and center logo from the worldwide MC that owns them?

A lot of questions, all pointing, of course, to “fake.” Others, however, were less critical of the show, such as this anonymous commenter:

Hey they’re cool ! All M/C;s don't have to be 1%ers. They’re there with permission. These guys are just in it for the Brotherhood of riding with friends. A step up from your local Hog chapter.

Also, Rob said:

Maybe they really are just a club who likes to ride motorcycles. It sounds like people here are taking it too seriously. You don't have to live like something out of a movie to have a group of people who ride together.

Is a Cop-MC Prez Marriage Acceptable?

An interesting issue that arose in this comment stream was the suggestion that one of the Laffing Devils is married to a police officer—something that readers adamantly say would never happen in a real MC (motorcycle club).

Anonymous:

THIS IS NOT A REAL MC....TOTALLY BOGUS...BY THE WAY...GIPSY'S WIFE IS A COP ! NO REAL MC WOULD EVER HAVE ANY TIES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ! WHAT A JOKE !

Anonymous:

Any MC associated as closely with law enforcement ie.. wife of a prez...is definitely not welcomed near or around our club.

Sheryl:

I am 55 and been riding since I was 15 only a ama riding club would allow a person with a cop in the family esp the president to have a cop for a wife what a &^%*($^ joke.

Others, however, seemed to think having a cop in an MC could be a benefit, like Zrfunited, who still agreed, overall that the Laffing Devils were likely fake:

Most likely their antics are contrived for television. Like I said, I most likely won't watch it. Don't really care to watch a bunch of folks playing at the fantasy. … I would actually venture to say that a wife or girlfriend who was a cop would be a great benefit to an outlaw.

It was unclear, overall, just what readers felt defined an MC, but those ideas were clearly polarized as well. While some debated on whether or not an MC would ever allow itself to be associated with a police officer, other anonymous comments focused on the other possibilities of being in a MC:

Anonymous:

Not all clubs are created to perpetuate scum, hate and discontent of all those around. Some of us are actually here to really help others.

You are exactly right. There are no rules to an MC that's what keeps everyone guessing. If their were specific rules it would not be an MC.

And, Sheryl agreed, saying:

Real clubs have raised more monies for St. Jude’s , cancer treatment , etc., than our govermment or any private org.

Whatever the definition of a “real” MC, one thing is clear: As long as The Devils Ride is hitting the airwaves at the Discovery Channel, it is going to be stirring up controversy, particularly the question that has yet to be anwered: Fake or not fake?

Stay tuned.

The Devils Ride airs tonight on the Discovery Channel at 10 p.m. E/P.

UPDATE: The Devils Ride into sunset on Season One finale

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Video: Discovery Channel, The Devils Ride

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