Why Dave Hester Was Fired From Storage Wars

Storage Wars star Dave Hester was fired from the popular A & E series, and the reason was unclear back then. As the most controversial buyer in the series, he was known for being loud and uninhibited during auctions. On the show, Dave had a signature catchphrase:

“Yuuup!”

The clip above shows Dave doing what he does best. However, he also stood out because he was a sore loser. As he brought the drama onscreen, it was very noticeable when he wasn’t participating in the series. Dave wasn’t a part of the Storage Wars season 15 cast, and there are still questions about his absence.

Since Storage Wars was a popular A&E show, when Dave went missing from season 4, it was a big deal. Some people weren’t sure where he’d gone. Though the series still featured other mainstays like Brandi Passante and Jarrod Schulz, there were questions about what happened to Dave. He did return to the series, and some information about why he initially left has come to light.

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The Real Reason Dave Hester Was Fired From Storage Wars

Dave Hester Accused Storage Wars Producers Of Fakery

Dave was fired from Storage Wars season 4 due to a lawsuit he filed against the show. Dave sued Storage Wars producers between seasons 3 and 4 because he alleged that the entire series was scripted. According to Looper, Dave’s suit claimed,

“The truth is that the Defendants regularly salt or plant the storage lockers that are the subject of the auctions portrayed on the series with valuable or unusual items to create drama and suspense for the show.”

He made several other claims against the show, ultimately explaining that he was:

“not comfortable participating in this charade.”

Dave Hester Returned To Storage Wars After Lawsuit

Dave Hester Made Peace With Storage Wars Producers

A&E higher-ups weren’t happy about the lawsuit – they fired Dave from the series due to his allegations. The two parties battled it out in court, and Dave filed other suits against the show for wrongful termination. A&E fared better in the suit than Dave, but he won one claim against the network. After some time, the lawsuit was settled, and his relationship with the network improved enough for him to return to the show. Unfortunately, Dave’s health was not good towards the end of his stint. Nonetheless, he appeared in the series frequently.

Dave Hester Had A Stroke

He Opened Up About His Health Issues In 2019

As per TMZ, Dave had a medical emergency that led to a long-term health battle. Since he had a stroke and needed time to heal his body, he had to step away from Storage Wars. The stroke was likely the result of sleep apnea, which deprived his brain and body of vital oxygen during the night.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include (as per Mayo Clinic):

• Excessive daytime sleepiness.
• Loud snoring.
• Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep.
• Waking during the night and gasping or choking.
• Awakening in the morning with a dry mouth or sore throat.
• Morning headaches.
• Trouble focusing during the day.
• Mood changes, such as depression or being easily upset.

Dave always got the villain edit and seemed to glory in his “tormenter” status. He’d intentionally drive up auction prices even when he wasn’t really interested in winning the lockers he was bidding on. He’d bid just to cause trouble. Then, his rivals would need to pay more for what they wanted. His somewhat evil strategy was admittedly hilarious, as he really got a rise out of his cast mates. His tactics also deterred some people from coming to the auctions.

Yes, as a reality TV villain, Dave was pretty much perfection. Ruthless, smug and wily, he had no pity. However, in real life, Dave deserves compassion. Many Storage Wars stars have had health issues, including Dave, Barry Weiss, and Darrell Sheets. Barry was in a very serious motorcycle accident. Darrell had a heart attack. As well, the pressures of fame may have gotten to influencer Brandi and Jarrod, who decided to break up. Their split was acrimonious, and after they broke up, they had to film the show as exes.

After his stroke, it took Dave months to restore his health. He couldn’t walk after his health crisis and needed to relearn that basic skill. Now, Dave is doing his best to enjoy life. Since Storage Wars season 15 was the last season, and the fate of season 16’s unclear, Dave may or may not return to the iconic reality series. Season 15 was memorable, with some fun episodes, including “Strings & Beans” and “Does A Bear Bid In The Woods,” but Dave was missed.

What Dave Hester Is Up To In 2024

Dave Hester’s Into Food, Dogs & Running Auctions

In 2023, Dave posted a picture of him signing autographs for Storage Wars fans, as seen above. The Instagram post showed him at the California Moving & Storage Convention. Dave seemed to be doing well and appeared to enjoy interacting with people who love the show.

He’s also a foodie who posts a lot of content about his culinary adventures. Whether he’s tucking into a thick and juicy steak at Ruth’s Chris steakhouse or indulging in delectable sushi, he takes fans along for the ride. He’s also fond of Mexican cuisine. As per Dave‘s X account, he’s devoted to his adorable pugs – Pinky and Violet are faithful companions. Dave has a wife, Donna Hester, and a son, Dave Hester Jr.

Dave‘s still running auctions, as per his LinkedIn. He’s based in Santa Ana, California, and has his own website, where he promotes his auctioneer services. He handles auctions in a range of business niches, such as estates, moving and storage and abandoned residential property (to name just a few). Anyone who wants to hire Dave can connect with him via his official website, Dave Hester Auctioneer.

Dave Hester Was The Storage Wars Villain

Is He Still The Bad Guy?

Dave’s no angel. If he was really nice, he wouldn’t have done the kinds of stuff that provoked his costars. He enjoyed baiting them. However, without Dave playing the villain (sure, he could have been hamming it up to entertain), Storage Wars might have been less entertaining. This year, Dave’s leading quite a normal life. On Instagram, as seen below, Dave‘s still posting about food, canines and career. On March 12, he posted a clip from Tacos Madres, as he prepared to eat a soft taco. One fan was happy he was alive and well. Perhaps crassly, they wrote:

I thought you passed

Then, they softened the remark, saying that they were glad he was okay. Dave looked good in the clip. He appeared to be a bit thinner than he was on the show. Strokes are serious matters – hopefully, the dining out that he so enjoys is helping him to build himself back up. Depending on severity, recovering from strokes can take years. Some people never fully recover.

Dave is currently 60 years old. He’s looking good and hopefully feels well. Dave’s a Leo, and the zodiac’s “big cats” hate to lose. That’s probably why Dave got so ruthless with the competition. Leos have egos, so Dave isn’t going to beat himself up over hassling his costars. That’s just not the Leo way. The astrological “king of the jungle” feels totally entitled to victory. However, that’s what makes Dave fun.

For years, Dave’s relationship with Storage Wars producers was complicated, and as it played out, his firing and re-hiring process was shocking. Once the lawsuit “dust” settled, the network and the star were able to clear the air. Dave was primed to return to the show, where he continued to appear for years.

Since Storage Wars is still a cultural phenomenon, the reasoning behind Dave’s disappearance is definitely interesting. In other posts, Dave shares his love for the Oakland Raiders. He’s usually eating something great in IG posts, from sushi to deep dish pizza to flour tortillas and beyond.

Sources: Looper, Dave Hester/Instagram, Dave Hester A&E/Instagram, TMZ, Mayo Clinic, Dave Hester/Instagram, Dave Hester/X, Dave Hester Auctioneer, Dave Hester/LinkedIn, Dave Hester/Instagram

Release Date

December 1, 2010

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu