'AGT' star Murray SawChuck claims foul play as LA magic club bans him for exposing tricks in viral video

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Murray SawChuck, a semi-finalist from 'America’s Got Talent' and a renowned magician and illusionist has been suspended from the Magic Castle after nearly three decades of membership.

The suspension came after his January 25 video revealing famous magic tricks garnered 65 million views. SawChuck is reportedly "surprised" and "blown away" by the ban, suggesting jealousy from his peers could be behind the decision.

Murray SawChuck says he was 'unfairly targeted'

SawChuck feels that had the video of him exposing the magic tricks not gone viral he would still be a member of the club as for now he has been unfairly targeted.

“I think I’m being unfairly targeted in the sense that the stuff I’m revealing, I’ve shown before in videos,” SawChuck said. "So my question is why now?" he asked.  

He posted the famous magic tricks revealing video on his Facebook page. He also claimed such videos of debunking magic tricks are nowadays often posted online. 

The video features SawChuck performing several tricks before being exposed by his wife, Dani.

"The video did really well and got a lot of views,” he explained the reason for his suspension, as reported by Daily Mail. 

Murray SawChuck feels 'unhappy' magicians in the club reported him 

SawChuck, who had been a member of the Hollywood-based Magic Castle for over 26 years, reflected on why he was reported by fellow members.

“I think there’s a handful of magicians that were unhappy with what I did online, and I unfortunately think [it’s] because I have been in the business a long time,” he stated.

He added things may have been different, "Because I had a show on the Las Vegas Strip, I guess that carries a bit more weight too. If I wasn't as known or the videos didn't do you know 65 million views…"

He also revealed, "I was actually blown away and surprised," after learning about the ban earlier this month as per the outlet, adding, "I was totally shocked by it."

He also reasoned exposing magic was to teach it to keep the old art alive. He explained it was the same way he learned magic when a friend back at home in Vancouver, Canada "showed me a couple of tricks and exposed their magic to help me."

"I loved it, and I got into it. I assume that I'm now one of the top magicians in the world working. And so that's how you get an interest in it, you know?" he said.

Murray SawChuck says he did not intend to discredit any magician through his exposing video

Despite breaking the Magic Castle’s rule of not exposing magic tricks, SawChuck insists that his videos were not discrediting anyone’s work of art.

“You’re not discrediting anybody’s work of art because [magicians] will use their own signature things they do - and it’s stuff that you can buy online,” he said.

If the Magic Castle were to reverse its decision, SawChuck would gladly return to the club. “I would welcome that,” he admitted. “Of course, I love the Magic Castle.”