What to Know
A forthcoming film depicting the Playboy world is pretty divisive, and the women who were closest to Hugh Hefner seem to have dramatically different feelings about the whole thing.
After Jessica Biel joined the cast of the film, called Playmates, Hugh’s widow, Crystal Harris, sent her a private message asking her to reconsider. She’s worried that the film might “romanticize” Playboy and Hugh, when the reality of that world was quite dark, according to Crystal and other women who have come forward with allegations.
Meanwhile, one of Hugh’s ex-wives, Kimberley Conrad, seems to have no issue with the project.
In her message to Jessica, Crystal accused Hugh of abuse.
Crystal sent Jessica a direct message, but she also shared a screenshot with her followers. In the message to Jessica, she wrote, “Please reconsider playing Hugh Hefner’s ‘wife’ if this film intends to romanticize him or the Playboy world.”
She continued, “I was actually his wife, and I experienced sexual, emotional, financial, and physical abuse in that relationship. Many other women have come forward with allegations of rape, coercion, drugging, and exploitation as well.”
Crystal seems worried that those involved in this film might lean too heavily into the “nostalgia” of it all while overlooking the harm and other darker sides of the Playboy world. “There are also deeply troubling concerns involving minors,” Crystal continued. “I hope everyone involved in this film takes the time to listen to the women who lived it before helping Hollywood turn it back into nostalgia.”
Crystal was married to Hugh from 2012 until his death in 2017.
Kimberley defended Hugh in her own post.
Amid all the discourse, she also decided to join the conversation via her Instagram post. Kimberley was married to Hugh from 1989 until 2010, but they actually separated in 1998. They welcomed two children together. Jessica’s character in the film is described as fictional in the sense that even though she is supposed to be Hugh’s wife, she is not portraying Crystal, Kimberley, or Hugh’s other ex-wife, Millie Williams.
Kimberley does not appear to share Crystal’s concerns about the film potentially romanticizing Hugh or Playboy. “I was married to Hef for over 21 years,” she wrote, per Us Weekly and Variety. “We shared a lifetime of beautiful memories, raised 2 wonderful sons together, and had a deeply loving bond that remained strong until his passing on September 27th, 2017 and continues with me to this day.”
She added, “I often told him if you look up the word gentleman in the dictionary you would find his name and photograph. Hef was in every sense of the word, a true gentleman, kind, loving, generous, philanthropic, and a man of extraordinary character. Losing Hef was devastating, and his absence is still deeply felt.”
She also noted that she “had the privilege of knowing and loving the man behind the public image” and “will always treasure the life and memories we shared.”
Kimberley also defended Hugh after Crystal’s memoir came out.
Although she didn’t mention Crystal by name at the time, she said in a statement that “we should be wary of those who try to destroy things because they are no longer benefiting from them.” From her perspective, people who do this “never hold credibility.”
She added, “If you want to talk about exploitation, this is exactly what these women have done with Hef in his later years and at the end of his life.”
At the time, she also noted that Hugh “lived an exceptional and impactful life” and accused those who speak out against him of trying to “(make) a quick buck.”
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