Crystal Hefner Urges Jessica Biel to Rethink Role in Playmates
Crystal Hefner, widow of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, has publicly asked Jessica Biel to rethink appearing in the Searchlight film Playmates. In an Instagram message, Hefner said the project risks romanticizing Hugh Hefner and the Playboy world, citing her own allegations of abuse and other women's claims. Biel is set to play a fictional wife of Hugh Hefner in Lorraine Nicholson's coming-of-age film.
Crystal Hefner, Hugh Hefner’s widow, was married to him from 2012 until his 2017 death at 91. She has objected to the Searchlight project Playmates, directed by Lorraine Nicholson, which is described as a coming-of-age film. Jessica Biel is attached to portray a fictional wife of Hugh Hefner.
In a direct Instagram message to Biel, Crystal asked her to reconsider. Crystal said she endured sexual, emotional, financial, and physical abuse during the marriage. She also referenced other women’s claims of rape, coercion, drugging, and exploitation, plus troubling issues involving minors.
The public request may intensify debate about how Hollywood portrays figures accused of abuse, potentially affecting survivors who see their experiences reflected. It could also shape audience expectations for Playmates and add pressure on Biel and filmmakers to address the criticism. Supporters of Hefner’s legacy might view the film differently. The outcome may influence whether similar projects face greater scrutiny.