Crystal Hefner Urges Jessica Biel to Reconsider Role in Upcoming Hugh Hefner Film

Crystal Hefner has publicly urged actress Jessica Biel to reconsider her role as Hugh Hefner’s wife in the forthcoming film “Playmates,” citing alleged abuse and exploitation within the Playboy empire.

Hefner, who was married to the Playboy founder from 2012 until his death in 2017, sent a direct message to Biel via Instagram, stating, “Please reconsider playing Hugh Hefner’s ‘wife’ if this film is to romanticize him or the Playboy world.” Hefner alleged that during her marriage, she experienced “sexual, emotional, financial and physical abuse.”

She further noted that other women have come forward with similar accusations, including claims of rape, coercion, drugging, and exploitation, with “deeply troubling concerns involving minors.” Hefner expressed hope that the filmmakers would listen to the experiences of women involved before the project romanticizes the era.

In a recent podcast interview, Hefner described her time at the Playboy Mansion as being “absolutely brainwashed” and under the supervision of 70 employees. She felt isolated and questioned her own sanity due to the public perception of Hefner.

Her 2024 memoir, “Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself,” details allegations of Hugh Hefner attempting to control her through strict rules regarding her weight and attire.

Biel was recently announced to play a fictional wife of Hefner in the film directed by Lorraine Nicholson. Bill Pullman is slated to portray Hefner. The movie's storyline is not a biopic but focuses on two playmates at the Playboy Mansion.

Hugh Hefner founded Playboy in 1953 and built a media empire that included the magazine, the Playboy Mansion, and reality television shows like “Girls Next Door.” He died in September 2017 at the age of 91.