“He more or less used to be this inexplicably previous Romeo that everyone used to be at all times crowding round,” she advised CNN ahead of the sequence started airing final month. “So it used to be a larger fascination, but in addition comedy on some degree for me.”
All that modified as she delved deeper into the challenge, which has unearthed allegations of a miles darker aspect of each the person and his iconic empire.
“Some won’t approve of the existence my Dad selected, however my father used to be now not a liar. Alternatively unconventional, he used to be trustworthy in his method and lived in truth,” the more youthful Hefner wrote. “He used to be beneficiant in nature and cared deeply for other people. Those salacious tales are a case learn about of remorseful about changing into revenge.”
The docuseries comprises more than one interviews with individuals who knew the media multi-millionaire in detail, from his butler to Holly Madison, who discovered status as a part of Hefner’s trio of girlfriends at the hit E! truth sequence “The Ladies Subsequent Door.”
Sondra Theodore used to be a 19-year-old fashion within the mid-Seventies when she says she met a then-50-year-old Hefner, who she says made her his female friend. (Hefner used to be widely recognized for having more than one ladies in his orbit at any time who had been known as “girlfriends.”)
She advised CNN it used to be a hard resolution for her to percentage her tale about being with a person who she alleged groomed her and used to be abusive, however says she shared her painful tale for the sake of her circle of relatives and different ladies of Playboy who had identical studies. She hopes her candidness is helping them “understand it wasn’t their fault.”
Theodore credited Dean with making her really feel at ease sufficient to percentage her tale.
In her opinion the challenge, she mentioned “Isn’t a kiss and inform. It is to carry this guy responsible” although he’s now not right here to stand the effects for his alleged movements.
Miki Garcia, a former Playmate who went directly to change into the director of promotions for Playmate Promotions, echoed that sentiment of accept as true with in Dean to shepherd a chain that demanding situations Hefner’s legacy as a supporter of girls and their possession over their sexuality.
She mentioned she does now not imagine the docuseries would have made it to the display screen if Hefner used to be nonetheless alive.
“I believe he owned the media just about,” Garcia mentioned. “He had an incredible, super affect at the media.”
Each Theodore and Garcia advised CNN ahead of the sequence aired that they expected there can be a backlash.
They had been right kind.
“He demonstrated a dedication to dwelling a decent existence past the whole lot else,” the letter learn partially. “Our time inside of Hugh Hefner’s Playboy and the group’s subsidiaries stays a length all folks are keen on. I proudly signal this letter in reputation of Hugh Hefner’s persona amid unfounded allegations within the A&E display.”
A spokesperson for A&E advised CNN the community stands at the back of the sequence.
Dean mentioned she attempted unsuccessfully to get Hefner’s circle of relatives to be part of the sequence and has a reaction for many who query why those tales are being advised now.
“As a result of Hefner and Playboy, for higher or for worse, formed our concepts of what sexual liberation, emancipation and freedom seems like for the ladies of our era, and we by no means tested that or idea seriously about it,” she mentioned. “And the extra I did this sequence, the extra I talked to those ladies, the extra I noticed that they had change into trapped within this concept of liberation that Hefner had built.”
“This concept of attractiveness being energy, adolescence being energy. After which this concept that girls might be more or less discarded as soon as that used to be over.”
CNN reached out to the Playboy Team for remark and didn’t obtain a reaction.
“We accept as true with and validate those ladies and their tales and we strongly beef up the ones people who have come ahead to percentage their studies,” the commentary went on.” As a logo with intercourse positivity at its core, we imagine protection, safety, and responsibility are paramount.”
“Secrets and techniques of Playboy” airs on A&E Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.
