A former Playboy Golf Bunny has urged the filmmakers behind Playmates to expose what she describes as the darker side of Hugh Hefner's world, alleging that sexual activity was treated as an 'obligation' for some of the late Playboy founder's girlfriends and wives. She hopes the film will look beyond the mansion's glamorous reputation and acknowledge the experiences of women who say they faced pressure behind the scenes.
Precious Muir, who worked at high-profile events while living in New York in the early 2000s, said the glamorous image of Playboy failed to tell the full story. She described pressure on women to keep wealthy guests happy and said the experience 'felt like being brainwashed'. Her comments add to growing debate over how the upcoming film will portray the Playboy Mansion and its legacy.
'It Felt Like Being Brainwashed'
Muir worked as a Playboy Golf Bunny, attending events as part of her role. She is urging the filmmakers to acknowledge what she says happened behind the scenes, rather than focusing exclusively on the parties and celebrity connections associated with the Playboy name.
'I would agree with Crystal Hefner and many other women who have been a part of that Playboy era,' Muir told The Mirror US, calling on the film's team to show the 'darkness' alongside the 'fun times'.
Muir alleged that group sex and sexual activity were treated as an 'obligation' for Hefner's girlfriends and wives. Separately, she said Playboy Bunnies were encouraged to spend time with wealthy guests, known as 'high rollers', and help ensure they enjoyed themselves. She recalled being urged to make events entertaining for those guests, describing an atmosphere in which women could feel pressure to please people with money and influence.
Her account does not establish that every woman faced the same expectations, nor does it mean she personally experienced every form of sexual pressure she described. The distinction is important: Muir's comments about Hefner's partners are allegations, while her account of working at events reflects her own experience in a different role.
Claims About Drugs, Alcohol and Sexual Pressure
Muir also described the amount of drugs and alcohol she encountered at events as 'insane'. She alleged that women could find themselves in rooms where sexual activity was taking place and might be encouraged to watch or participate.
She said she no longer works as a Playboy Bunny and does not know how the organisation operates today. Her comments concern her experiences in the early 2000s and should not be taken as evidence of current practices.
Muir wants Playmates to explore the alleged pressures and exploitation she says were part of that environment, rather than presenting the Playboy world solely through a nostalgic lens.
Crystal Hefner Raises Concerns Over the Film
Muir's criticism follows public comments from Crystal Hefner, Hugh Hefner's widow, who urged Jessica Biel to reconsider playing a fictional version of Hefner's wife if the film intends to romanticise him or the Playboy world.
Crystal married Hefner in 2012 and remained married to him until he died in 2017. She has alleged that she experienced sexual, emotional, financial and physical abuse during their relationship, discussing her experiences in her 2024 memoir, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself.
Crystal has also called on the filmmakers to listen to women who lived through that era before presenting it to a new audience. Biel had not publicly responded to Crystal's appeal. And, no direct response from Playboy representatives to Muir's allegations was identified.
What Is Playmates About?
Written and directed by Lorraine Nicholson, Playmates is a coming-of-age drama drawing loosely on Nicholson's childhood experiences around the Playboy Mansion. The story follows 13-year-old Elle, played by Indiana Elle, who considers the mansion her second home and befriends Anna, played by Lily-Rose Depp, one of several hopefuls competing to become Playmate of the Month.
Bill Pullman is set to play Hefner, while Biel's character is fictional and is not based specifically on Crystal or any of Hefner's real-life wives. Searchlight Pictures acquired the film, with production scheduled in Los Angeles from October to November 2026, according to industry production listings.
The film is not a factual account of Muir's experiences or Crystal's marriage. But their concerns raise a question for its creators: whether Playmates will examine the darker experiences alleged by women associated with Playboy, as well as the glamour that helped define its public image.
