The twins were afraid Hefner would take away their Playboy covers and their TV gig if they resisted his sex expectations, but they were disgusted Hefner refused to use condoms. They thought moving into the Playboy Mansion in 2008 would be like living in an adult Disneyland instead, it was "gross" being intimate "with grandpa." Two of Hefner's girlfriends on the Playboy reality show "Girls Next Door," identical twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon, now 32, say they were reluctant sex partners to Hefner. Kristina and Karissa Shannon allege Hefner assaulted them as teens, refused to use condoms, got one of them pregnant "We're trying to prevent the next generation from falling for another predator," Theodore says. To Hefner, she says: "You’re not getting away with this, whether you’re dead or not." She and Krabacher say other Playboy women are fully aware of what went on but refuse to publicly hold Hefner accountable. "They just think we deserved it," she says, under the assumption that " 'Playboy is not a convent.
Theodore thinks most of those criticizing the series believe what accusers have been saying. The filmmakers introduce another would-be Playboy model, Audrey Huskey, who says she was triggered by earlier episodes to call Theodore and tell her story that Hefner drugged and raped her, too. It features Sondra Theodore, one of Hefner's ex-girlfriends and leading accusers, and Susie Krabacher, a former Playmate who says Hefner drugged and raped her. The final episode pushes back on criticism of the series. Here are some of the most stunning claims made in the 12 episodes: 'You're not getting away with this, whether you're dead or not,' Hugh Hefner's former girlfriend says Hefner or the Playboy culture, do not negate the experiences of those who have come forward to share their truth on the series and we look forward to continuing to bring these stories to light."Ī disclaimer after every episode notes that the "vast majority of allegations (against Hefner and associates) have not been subject to criminal investigations or charges, and they do not constitute guilt." "Signatures on a letter, or a different experience with Mr. Review: Impressive transformations aside, Hulu's sex-tape saga 'Pam & Tommy' misses the markĪ&E issued a statement to USA TODAY in response to the letter, arguing that the personal experiences of Hefner's accusers deserve to be told, "despite how difficult they may be for some to hear." "Our time within Hugh Hefner's Playboy and the organization's subsidiaries remains a period all of us are fond of."
"He was a person of upstanding character, exceptional kindness and dedication to free thought," the letter said. People magazine published an open letter signed by hundreds of former Playboy bunnies, Playmates, ex-girlfriends and employees denouncing "Secrets of Playboy" and the allegations it makes against Hefner. "It is critically important that we listen."
“We trust and validate these women and their stories and we strongly support those individuals who have come forward to share their experiences," Playboy said in the statement. Playboy issued a statement noting that today's Playboy is not Hefner's Playboy. Hefner's son, Cooper, recently spoke out in support of his father on Twitter, saying that Hefner "cared deeply for people" and that the stories in the series are "salacious." "If you're not happy, pack up your stuff and go – you could have walked out the door anytime," says Hefner's photographer friend Alison Reynolds. Some of Hefner's friends defend him in the series. 'Secrets of Playboy': Hugh Hefner's former girlfriends, Playmates and employees allege a culture of abuse It was all about what people perceived about you. "What I want to say to Hefner is you destroyed a lot of lives," says PJ Masten, a former Playboy "bunny mother." "You were power-hungry. You didn't care about the lives of these women. Scores of Hefner's girlfriends, friends, employees and colleagues explain how they chose to embrace the lifestyle he flaunted before America's many bluenoses, and how they eventually realized – too late – it was all a soul-destroying sham. Nevertheless, "Secrets of Playboy" comprises 12 hours of people talking about Hefner and the Playboy empire he created. He died in 2017 at age 91, escaping the #MeToo tornado of takedowns of other powerful Hollywood men. Right off the bat in A&E's docuseries "Secrets of Playboy," one of Hefner's ex-girlfriends, Holly Madison, says the legacy dust isn't settled yet. What is the legacy of Hugh Hefner? Infamous libertine and hedonist? Groundbreaking publisher and free-speech warrior? Culture changer, vampire, monster? All of the above? Watch Video: Playboy Magazine founder Hugh Hefner dies at 91