Kehlani.Photo: Brianna Alysse/Playboy
Playboyis distancing itself from late founderHugh Hefneras the company faces a social reckoning.The iconic brand denounced the alleged “abhorrent actions” of Hefner and others named in the tell-all docuseriesSecrets of Playboy, which premieres Monday on A&E, in anopen letterthat details their commitment to “positive change” underPlayboy’s new leadership.“First and foremost, we want to say: we trust and validate women and their stories, and we strongly support the individuals who have come forward to share their experiences,” the letter read. “As a brand with sex positivity at its core, we believe safety, security and accountability are paramount, and anything less is inexcusable.“The PLBY Group leadership team also reassured staff that the Hefner family is no longer associated withPlayboy, which is now made up of more than 80 percent female employees. “Today’sPlayboyis not Hugh Hefner’sPlayboy,” they wrote.For more on theSecrets of Playboydocuseries, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.“Together we are 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,” they added. “We will continue to confront any parts of our legacy that do not reflect our values today, and to build upon the progress we have made as we evolve as a company so we can drive positive change for you and our communities.Brian Ziff"Please join us in doing the most important thing we can do right now —listen. It is critically important that we listen as these women share their stories and continue to fight harassment and discrimination in all its forms, support healing and education, redefine tired and sexist definitions of beauty and advocate for inclusivity across gender, sexuality, race, age, ability and zip codes.“The leadership team has also ensured that they have “avenues for care” and recommended theSexual Assault HotlineandBetterHelpfor those in need of assistance.The 10-part docuseriesSecrets of Playboyfeatures interviews with several of Hefner’s staff, inner circle and past girlfriends, includingHolly Madison. “I didn’t realize that getting into thePlayboyworld was a dangerous choice,” Madison, 42,said in one trailer.RELATED VIDEO: Holly Madison Recalls ‘Traumatic’ First Night with Ex Hugh Hefner: He Was ‘Pushed on Top of Me’TheGirls Next Dooralum left the Playboy Mansion in 2008, later recounting her experience in her 2015 bookDown the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny. She most recently recalled her “traumatic” first sexual encounter with Hefner on thePower: Hugh Hefnerpodcast.Hefner founded Playboy in 1953 as a men’s lifestyle publication known for its nude pictorials, having since grown into a global empire. Hugh stepped down in 2016 and his son, Cooper Hefner, briefly succeeded him before Hugh’s death in 2017.The brand published its last regular print edition in Spring 2020 and has since moved completely online.Secrets of Playboypremieres Jan. 24 at 9 p.m. on A&E.If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.
Playboyis distancing itself from late founderHugh Hefneras the company faces a social reckoning.
The iconic brand denounced the alleged “abhorrent actions” of Hefner and others named in the tell-all docuseriesSecrets of Playboy, which premieres Monday on A&E, in anopen letterthat details their commitment to “positive change” underPlayboy’s new leadership.
“First and foremost, we want to say: we trust and validate women and their stories, and we strongly support the individuals who have come forward to share their experiences,” the letter read. “As a brand with sex positivity at its core, we believe safety, security and accountability are paramount, and anything less is inexcusable.”
The PLBY Group leadership team also reassured staff that the Hefner family is no longer associated withPlayboy, which is now made up of more than 80 percent female employees. “Today’sPlayboyis not Hugh Hefner’sPlayboy,” they wrote.
For more on theSecrets of Playboydocuseries, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.
“Together we are 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,” they added. “We will continue to confront any parts of our legacy that do not reflect our values today, and to build upon the progress we have made as we evolve as a company so we can drive positive change for you and our communities.
Brian Ziff
“Please join us in doing the most important thing we can do right now —listen. It is critically important that we listen as these women share their stories and continue to fight harassment and discrimination in all its forms, support healing and education, redefine tired and sexist definitions of beauty and advocate for inclusivity across gender, sexuality, race, age, ability and zip codes.”
The leadership team has also ensured that they have “avenues for care” and recommended theSexual Assault HotlineandBetterHelpfor those in need of assistance.
The 10-part docuseriesSecrets of Playboyfeatures interviews with several of Hefner’s staff, inner circle and past girlfriends, includingHolly Madison. “I didn’t realize that getting into thePlayboyworld was a dangerous choice,” Madison, 42,said in one trailer.
RELATED VIDEO: Holly Madison Recalls ‘Traumatic’ First Night with Ex Hugh Hefner: He Was ‘Pushed on Top of Me’
TheGirls Next Dooralum left the Playboy Mansion in 2008, later recounting her experience in her 2015 bookDown the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny. She most recently recalled her “traumatic” first sexual encounter with Hefner on thePower: Hugh Hefnerpodcast.
Hefner founded Playboy in 1953 as a men’s lifestyle publication known for its nude pictorials, having since grown into a global empire. Hugh stepped down in 2016 and his son, Cooper Hefner, briefly succeeded him before Hugh’s death in 2017.
The brand published its last regular print edition in Spring 2020 and has since moved completely online.
Secrets of Playboypremieres Jan. 24 at 9 p.m. on A&E.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.
Charlotte Triggs
source: people.com
