Hugh Hefner’s Widow Says She Was ‘Brainwashed’ During Marriage

Hugh Hefner’s legacy is undergoing a reevaluation years after his passing, and a significant part of this reassessment comes from revelations made by his widow about their marriage.

Crystal Hefner, Hugh’s third and final wife who was still married to him at the time of his death in 2017, is set to release a memoir titled “Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself.” The title, she claims, is based on Hugh Hefner’s request for what she should say about him after his passing.

Although Crystal initially spoke positively about Hugh in the aftermath of his death, her forthcoming memoir takes a different tone, describing their relationship with “regret and disgust.” In a recent profile by the NYT, Crystal appears to be critical of Hugh Hefner and the culture cultivated within the Playboy world.

Crystal suggests that, at the time, she may have been “brainwashed or something.” The memoir includes allegations against Hugh, including claims of strict control over her appearance and weight, as well as enforcing a curfew for her.

She even hints at feeling somewhat confined at the Playboy Mansion, recounting an instance where she managed to “escape” temporarily but returned, citing a form of Stockholm syndrome.

It’s worth noting that Crystal Hefner is not the first Playboy model to speak out against Hugh Hefner and the company. In recent years, other former Playboy models, including Kendra Wilkinson, have come forward with similar claims. Playboy itself has acknowledged these allegations against its founder, describing the claims as “abhorrent.”