Cooper Hefner has spoken to defend Hugh Hefner’s late father after Playboy founder’s ex-girlfriends accused him of drugging, grooming, and creating a cult atmosphere in his house.
Playboy’s 30-year old heir was taken to Twitter to clap back at the ‘salacious stories’ about his father just one day before the January 24 premiere of A&E’s docuseries ‘Secrets of Playboy,’ though he didn’t name the show or the network.
“Some people may not agree with the lifestyle my Dad led, but I was proud of my father’s honesty,” he said. He was honest and sincere, even though his methods were unconventional.
“He was generous and deeply cared for others. These stories show how regret can become revenge.
Cooper, aged 30, used Twitter to tweet his disapproval at the “salacious stories” about his father one day before the premiere of Secrets of Playboy on January 24, 2013.
The A&E docuseries lifts the lid on the ‘dark underbelly’ of Playboy and how its venues became a seedy playground for drug use, sexual abuse, and bestiality
Cooper’s tweet didn’t mention the network or show, but Cooper insisted that “these salacious stories” were a study of revenge becoming regret.
The Secrets of Playboy Promises to shed light on Playboy’s ‘dark underbelly,’ and the ways in which its venues have become a dangerous playground for drugs, abuse and even betiality.
The 10-part series includes exclusive interviews with insiders, including Hugh ex-girlfriends Sondra Theodore and Holly Madison, who calls the mansion ‘very cult-like’ in one shocking trailer.
DailyMail.com exclusive: The ‘Secrets of Playboy” details Hugh’s demands for orgies five times a week and how he drugged women using ‘leg spreader Quaaludes. He also hosted weekly “Pig Nights” with prostitutes.
Madison says that Madison believes the mansion looked cultish because they were expecting Hef to be a good person. “You started to feel that he wasn’t what the media portrays, but he was just a pleasant man.
Cooper is pictured here with his father, in 2012. Cooper stated that Playboy founder John Playboy was ‘generous’ and ‘not an liar’
Hugh retired from Playboy at the end of 2016 and was 91 years old when he died. Cooper assumed control and ran Playboy briefly.
Madison (now 42) moved in to the Playboy house at 21 years old and became Hugh’s primary girlfriend. She claims they dated between 2001 and 2008 and he never used protection in sex.
Cooper managed the company until 2018, when his family bought its 35 percent share.
Although she admits to feeling suicidal at times, E! helped her overcome that. The reality television series The Girls Next Door restored her self-esteem.
She explains that it was easy to become isolated from the outside world. “You were subject to a 9-o’clock curfew. It was strongly advised that you did not invite friends to your home. You were not allowed to go on holiday with your family unless you had permission.
Theodore, who is now 65 years old, tells how group sex was conducted at Theodore’s mansion on five nights per week. This ‘broke’ me as a horse would.
Hefner also hosted weekly “Pig Nights” during which he brought in prostitutes for sex to share his time with friends.
According to Docuseries, Don Cornelius, a revered Soul Train host, was one of two Playboy bunnies held hostage by Don Cornelius and then raped the other.
New A&E docuseries, Secrets of Playboy, lifts the lid on the ‘dark underbelly’ of the Playboy Mansion and founder Hugh Hefner
Hugh was the man who started Playboy’s first edition in 1953. He had been a strong advocate for freedom of expression and sexuality in an oppressive postwar period.
The castle-like Playboy mansion and the Playboy clubs would eventually become seedy playground for drug use, sexual abuse, and even bestiality, according to the new docuseries
Interviews with Linda Lovelace (a 1970s porn actress who gained fame through the movie ‘Deep Throat’) are also included in the series. Hugh, his family and friends were able to see her perform oral sex while she was being treated as a “piece of meat” and made her do it on the German Shepherd.
It is an examination of the legacy and contributions of Playboy Publisher, who died at the age of 91 in 2017.
Hugh was just 27 when he published the first Playboy magazine issue in 1953. The first issue, which featured Marilyn Monroe as the cover, sold over 50,000 copies. It also spawned a business empire that lasted decades.
Hugh created dozens upon dozens Playboy clubs that allowed their members to gain entry by using keys.
It is an introspective reexamination on the legacy and achievements of Playboy Publisher.
Playboy was thriving by the 1970s and Hefner had opened dozens of Playboy clubs, where members could gain entry with a key. A group of Playboy Bunnies accompany him in 1966.
Former Playboy Bunny Mama PJ Masten talks about the depravity’ that was witnessed at Playboy’s venues. It recalls how Lisa Lovelace, a pornstar, was once forced to do oral sex and drugged by PJ Masten.
Hugh was a proponent of freedom of sexuality in an oppressive postwar period. The feminist movement, which denounced Hugh’s objectification of women in 1970s led to a backlash.
One year after his death, the founder decided to step down. Cooper, his son, ran the company until Cooper sold the 35 percent to an investment fund that focuses on tech the next year.
In recent years Playboy has struggled to stay relevant — the magazine stopped printing physical copies in 2020 — and many former Playmates have spoken out against the culture in the wake of the MeToo movement.
“Secrets of Playboy” is Hefner’s most damning portrayal to date. It includes extensive interviews with Playboy Bunnies and former associates.
Miki Garcia was the former Director of Playmate Promotions. She said, “It was cultlike. They had groomed the women and made them believe that they belonged to this family. He [Hugh]These women were his.
“We had playmates who overdosed and that took their own lives.”
Playboy Bunny Holly Madison, 21 years old, moved in to the Playboy mansion and became his primary girlfriend. From 2001 to 2008, they dated.
Madison, pictured in 2003. Madison revealed that Hugh did not use protection while she was having sex. She said that Madison got involved in a ‘cycle’ of gross things and didn’t know how to proceed.
Hugh pitted his girls against one another, and the plastic surgeon was ‘compulsive.’ Madison explained that Madison tried to maintain their relationship with Hugh.
A few days before the ‘Secrets of Playboy’ premiere, Playboy released an open letter distancing the brand from Hugh and allegations of his ‘abhorrent actions.’
“First and foremost, I want to affirm that we believe in women and value their stories. We also support individuals who are willing to share their personal experiences,” the letter stated. We believe that safety, security, accountability, and transparency are essential to a brand that is committed to sex positivity.
‘As you know, the Hefner family is no longer associated with Playboy, and today’s Playboy is not Hugh Hefner’s Playboy.’
The PLBY Group noted that its organization is now made up of more than 80 percent female employees, saying it is ‘building upon the aspects of our legacy that have made a positive impact, including serving as a platform for free expression and a convener of safe conversations on sex, inclusion and freedom.
Sondra Theodore was an actress and former model who had dated Hefner between the 1970s and 1980s. Hefner was prolific in using drugs, she said, taking her to purchase cocaine multiple times and breaking my heart like a horse.
Theodore, 65 years old, relates how Playboy’s toxic environment ruined her beauty.
Hefner kept cameras in all rooms and in the gardens, where hidden microphones were placed.
“We will confront all aspects of our past that don’t reflect our current values, and we will build on the successes we have made in our evolution as a company to drive positive change for our customers and communities.
‘Please join us in doing the most important thing we can do right now — Listen,’ The leadership team kept going.
“It’s crucial that we listen to these women’s stories, that we support healing and education and continue to fight harassment, discrimination and all forms of discrimination, that we redefine tired and sexist notions about beauty, and advocate for inclusion across genders, sexualities, ages, abilities, and zip codes.
The letter concluded that its team has ‘avenues for care’ and suggested the Sexual Assault Hotline or BetterHelp for anyone needing assistance.