Hefner's Widow Pleads with Jessica Biel to Reconsider Role in Playboy Film

Hugh Hefner's widow, Crystal Harris, has made a public appeal to actress Jessica Biel. Following the announcement of Biel’s casting, Harris urged her through an Instagram post to reconsider playing Hefner's wife in an upcoming film entitled “Playmates,” cautioning against romanticizing the Playboy founder or his lifestyle. Harris stated that as Hefner's wife, she suffered different forms of abuse during her relationship.

The forthcoming film “Playmates” is a Searchlight production, under the direction of Lorraine Nicholson, daughter of actor Jack Nicholson. Apart from Biel, the film stars Bill Pullman, Lily-Rose Depp, and Indiana Elle. Harris further commented on Instagram about numerous allegations from other women of exploitation, drugging, and coercion related to the Playboy enterprise, further warning of grave concerns involving minors.

Harris has been vocal about her experiences at the Playboy mansion since Hefner's death in 2017, especially in her 2024 memoir “Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself.” The movie "Playmates" is said to center on a 13-year-old girl who regards the Playboy Mansion as her second home, meeting one of seven aspiring Playmates. An unusual friendship is formed as they assist each other to achieve their respective aspirations - securing a magazine cover and a boyfriend. The script is a creation of Nicholson, who also writes about her early life experiences at the Playboy Mansion.