Hugh Hefner's Widow, Crystal Harris, Shared The Harrowing DM She Sent Jessica Biel After Learning She'd Play His Wife In A Film
by Leyla Mohammed · BuzzFeedPosted on Oct 9, 2026 UTC
This article mentions sexual and emotional abuse.
In recent years, Hugh Hefner’s widow, Crystal Harris, has been increasingly vocal about her negative experiences with the Playboy founder.
For some context, Crystal met Hugh when she joined his infamous Playboy Mansion at age 21, and they got married five years later, when she was 26, and he was 86. They remained together until his death in 2017.
Crystal spent years largely speaking highly of Hugh, though she began to divulge the “complicated and conflicting” truth about her time at the Playboy Mansion around 2022.
When ex-Playmate Holly Madison recalled feeling scared to leave the Mansion in case any of her “revenge porn” was leaked, Crystal later revealed that she’d destroyed thousands of nude photos that Hugh had allegedly taken of the women while they were “wasted out of their minds.”
The following month, Crystal wrote on Instagram, “While the mansion in some ways was a sanctuary in other ways I was exploited like never before…I’m still trying to heal from what I went through but I am ready to share the journey.”
Lo and behold, Crystal released a memoir in 2024, titled Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself, in which she opened up about how “controlling” Hugh was — not just when it came to sex, but also regarding her physical appearance.
While promoting the tell-all book, Crystal described her and Hugh’s marriage as “very traumatic,” “emotionally abusive,” and “restrictive.” “I didn't realize how bad it was until I was away from it for a while,” she told E! News.
With this context in mind, as well as the fact that several other former Playmates have been vocal about their traumatic experiences with Hugh in recent years, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Crystal appeared upset over recent news that actor Jessica Biel has been cast in an upcoming film based on the Playboy Mansion.
The movie is called Playmates, and, according to Variety, it will star Jessica as the wife of Hugh, who will be played by Bill Pullman. Lily-Rose Depp and Indiana Elle are also set to appear in the project, portraying two young Playmates.
Despite reports that Jessica’s character in the film is fictional, Crystal still reached out to the 7th Heaven star and begged her to reconsider her casting.
In a screenshot showcasing a private DM, Crystal wrote to Jessica: “Please reconsider playing Hugh Hefner’s wife if this film intends to romanticize him or the Playboy world. I was actually his wife, and I experienced sexual, emotional, financial and physical abuse in that relationship.”
“Many other woman have come forward with allegations of rape, coercion, drugging and exploitation as well,” Crystal continued. “There are also deeply troubling concerns involving minors. I hope everyone involved this film takes the time to listen the women who lived it before helping Hollywood turn it back into nostalgia.”
Sadly, not all of the responses to Crystal’s DM — which quickly went viral — were positive:
In response to the criticism, Crystal said in a follow-up post, “Victim blaming is still far too common, especially when it comes to narcissistic and emotional abuse. I know that not everyone has experienced these dynamics firsthand, and I’m genuinely glad for those who haven’t. But I also hope we can listen to and support the women who have, even when their experiences are difficult to understand.”
“My goal has always been to support women, amplify their voices, and help create a world where their experiences are taken seriously. That’s where I want to keep putting my energy moving forward,” she continued.
“Regarding the film, I hope it’s not something that will glorify Hugh Hefner,” she added. “With women in the leading roles, my hope is that the film ultimately delivers a message of empowerment: that women can find fulfillment, independence, and a sense of self beyond Playboy.”