Crystal Harris, the widow of Hugh Hefner, has publicly asked actress Jessica Biel to step away from a role in the upcoming film 'Playmates' due to concerns over the romanticization of the Playboy world.

Crystal Harris, who was married to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner from 2012 until his death in 2017, has publicly urged actress Jessica Biel to reconsider her involvement in the upcoming film 'Playmates.' Following the announcement of Biel’s casting as a fictionalized version of Hefner’s wife, Harris shared an Instagram message calling on the actress to avoid participating in a project that might romanticize Hefner or the Playboy environment.

Harris Details Allegations of Abuse

In her message to Biel, Harris stated that she experienced sexual, emotional, financial, and physical abuse during her marriage to Hefner. She further noted that many other women have come forward with allegations involving rape, coercion, drugging, and exploitation. Harris expressed concern regarding the treatment of minors in the context of the Playboy organization and urged those involved in the film to listen to the accounts of women who lived through these experiences before proceeding with the project. Harris previously documented her experiences at the Playboy Mansion in her 2024 memoir, 'Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself.' She has also publicly criticized the handling of Hefner’s private documents, including explicit scrapbooks that she suggested may contain images of underage individuals who could not consent to the retention or control of their photos.

Production Details of 'Playmates'

The film 'Playmates' is being produced by Searchlight Pictures and marks the directorial debut of Lorraine Nicholson, who has previously written about her own childhood visits to the Playboy Mansion. The cast includes Bill Pullman as Hugh Hefner, alongside Lily-Rose Depp and Indiana Elle. According to the official synopsis, the plot follows a 13-year-old girl who considers the Playboy Mansion her second home and forms a friendship with a woman competing to be Playmate of the Month.