Crystal Harris Urges Jessica Biel to Withdraw from Playboy Biopic
Hugh Hefner's widow cites alleged abuse and exploitation, asking the actress not to 'glamorize' the late publisher.
Crystal Harris, the widow of Hugh Hefner, has publicly appealed to actress Jessica Biel to withdraw from an upcoming Playboy Mansion biopic titled "Playmates." Harris, who was married to Hefner, expressed concerns that the film might romanticize the Playboy lifestyle and its founder, citing her own experiences of alleged abuse.
In a message shared on social media, Harris urged Biel, who is slated to play a fictional wife in the film, to "reconsider" her involvement. "I was actually his wife, and I experienced sexual, emotional, financial and physical abuse in that relationship," Harris stated. She also referenced allegations from other women concerning rape, coercion, drugging, and exploitation, as well as "deeply troubling concerns involving minors."
Harris told the Daily Mail that she has not yet seen the script but hopes the film will provide an honest portrayal of Hefner and the control he wielded. "I would like to see an honest portrayal of Hugh Hefner and the control he wielded, rather than another film that glamorizes a man who spent his life carefully mythologizing himself and his image," she said. She added, "With women in the leading roles, my hope is that the film ultimately delivers a message of empowerment: that women can find fulfillment, independence, and a sense of self beyond Playboy."
Former Playboy model and journalist Lisa Guerrero supported Harris's stance, stating, "Any attempt to soften or humanize this man's image is one too many." Guerrero, who hosted A&E's "Secrets of Playboy," noted that many women had detailed their abuse by Hefner and his associates, facts she found well-documented.
Biel is set to portray a fictional wife, while Bill Pullman will play Hefner and Lily-Rose Depp will star as a Playboy model aspiring to become Playmate of the Month. The film, described as a coming-of-age story, is being written and directed by Lorraine Nicholson, daughter of actor Jack Nicholson, who reportedly spent time at the Playboy Mansion as a child.
Harris, 40, married Hefner on New Year's Eve 2012, when she was 26 and he was 86. They remained together until his death in 2017 at age 91. Two years prior to his death, Harris released a memoir detailing her life in the Playboy Mansion. While she and Hefner had a prenuptial agreement, she reportedly received a $5 million lump sum and a Hollywood Hills house from his estate after his death.