Crystal Harris has urged actress Jessica Biel to reconsider playing Hugh Hefner's fictional wife in Playmates if the upcoming film intends to romanticise the Playboy founder or his world. The late mogul's widow, who alleges she experienced sexual, emotional, financial and physical abuse during their marriage, has called on the filmmakers to listen to women who lived through the Playboy Mansion's culture rather than turn its history into nostalgia.
In a social media post on 8 October, she shared a message addressed to Biel, writing: 'Please reconsider playing Hugh Hefner's "wife" if this film intends to romanticize him or the Playboy world.' She adds, 'I was actually his wife, and I experienced sexual, emotional, financial and physical abuse in that relationship.'
Crystal married the Playboy founder in 2012 and remained with him until his death in 2017. In her message, she urged the production team to listen to women who had experienced life inside the Playboy Mansion before turning its history into nostalgia. She also expressed hope that the film would deliver a message of empowerment, showing that women could find fulfilment, independence and self-worth beyond Playboy.
Jessica Biel has joined the cast of the upcoming film “Playmates,” Variety has learned.
— Yahoo Entertainment (@YahooEnt) October 7, 2026
Biel will play Hugh Hefner’s wife, opposite previously announced cast members Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Pullman, and Indiana Elle. https://t.co/iTqBjyhreU pic.twitter.com/atQg3zJU0P
What Is Playmates About?
Written and directed by Lorraine Nicholson, Playmates is a coming-of-age drama set around the Playboy Mansion. The story is loosely inspired by Nicholson's childhood experiences visiting the estate.
According to the film's published synopsis, Elle, a 13-year-old girl who considers the mansion her second home, meets Anna, one of seven hopefuls competing to become Playmate of the Month. The pair develop an unlikely friendship as they try to help each other achieve their goals. Indiana Elle plays Elle, while Lily-Rose Depp portrays Anna. Bill Pullman is set to play Hugh Hefner, and Biel has been cast as his fictional wife, a former Playmate. Her character is not based directly on any of Hefner's three real-life wives.
The fictional premise differs from a direct account of Crystal's marriage. Her criticism centres on the possibility that the production could romanticise Hefner and the Playboy world without adequately acknowledging the experiences and allegations described by women associated with the mansion. However, the casting announcement and synopsis alone do not establish the filmmakers' intentions or how the finished film will portray the subject.
Holly Madison for Playboy 𐙚 ⋆｡˚ ᡣ𐭩 pic.twitter.com/mbpJs5MBFl
— 𓊆ྀི divatron 5000 𓊇ྀི (@mcdivagal) June 9, 2026
Holly Madison Reacts to the Film
Her appeal contrasts with the reaction of former The Girls Next Door star Holly Madison, who has expressed enthusiasm for the film. In a report, she praised Nicholson, describing her as 'a wonderful writer', and said she was excited to see her take on the story. Madison also discussed the importance of keeping an open mind when other people shared their experiences, noting that others had listened to her own accounts of life inside the Playboy Mansion.
A Different Look at Playboy
The contrasting reactions highlight the challenges of dramatising a controversial real-life setting. Although Playmates follows fictional characters, its setting connects the film to a history whose legacy has been debated by former residents and associates. Ultimately, Crystal Harris has urged the filmmakers to consider the experiences of women who have spoken about their time in the Playboy world.
