Crystal Hefner Asks Jessica Biel to Rethink Playmates Role

Crystal Hefner has publicly asked Jessica Biel to reconsider playing Hugh Hefner's wife in the Searchlight film Playmates.

Hefner, who was married to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner from 2012 until his death in 2017, shared a screenshot of an Instagram direct message she said she sent to Biel, according to Deadline. Hugh Hefner died in 2017 at age 91.

In the message, Hefner asked Biel to "please reconsider" the role if the film intends to romanticise Hefner or the Playboy world. She wrote that she hopes the project will not glorify him.

The message set out serious claims about her own relationship. Hefner wrote that she experienced sexual, emotional, financial and physical abuse during her time with Hugh Hefner. These are her statements in the message, reported by Deadline, not independently established findings.

She also wrote that many other women have come forward with allegations including rape, coercion, drugging and exploitation. In the same message, she raised concerns involving minors. Again, these were presented as her account and her description of claims made by others.

Playmates is written and directed by Lorraine Nicholson for Searchlight, the Disney-owned specialty label. Nicholson has said the story was inspired by her childhood friendship with Hugh Hefner's children.

It is described as a coming-of-age story set in Los Angeles. It follows 13-year-old Elle, who considers the Playboy Mansion her second home.

Newcomer Indiana Elle plays Elle. Lily-Rose Depp plays Anna, one of seven hopefuls seeking to be named Playmate of the Month. Bill Pullman plays Hugh Hefner.

Biel's role is fictional. It is not based on any of Hugh Hefner's three wives, according to Deadline.

Hefner, also known as Crystal Harris and a former Playboy model, has spoken in the past about her marriage. Her appeal to Biel centres on how that history is handled on screen. She does not ask for the film to be stopped. She asks Biel to weigh what the role may celebrate.