Crystal Hefner Confesses She Never Truly Loved Hugh Hefner

Crystal Hefner’s journey wasn’t your typical walk down memory lane. Unlike most, her early adulthood unfolded on a hit TV show, where she was often seen in skimpy outfits, laughing alongside other women around a global sex icon who was a whopping 60 years her senior.  

Fast forward to today, a young entrepreneur, writer, and Hugh Hefner’s widow is ready to spill the beans. She’s opening up about her life inside the famed Playboy Mansion, her relationship with Hugh, and the emotional rollercoaster that came with it. And oh boy, she’s got stories to tell.

Her initial reaction to Hugh’s proposal? A big yes, followed by a swift flight. Yet, after a tumultuous stint with Dr. Phil’s son Jordan, she returned to Hugh’s side. Though she loved Hugh, she wasn’t “in love” with him and became his caregiver in his last years. “I realized I was dealing with a really big power imbalance,” she admits. “It seemed like a world of success and fantasy, but everyone’s having to sleep with an 80-year-old. There’s a price. Everything has a price.”

Crystal gets candid about her marriage to Hugh, from 2012 till his death. Though she cared for him, she confesses, “I was never truly in love with him. It’s hard to be in love with someone who wants multiple people in the bedroom, and really only cares about themselves and their own needs and wants.” Her reflections paint a picture of a “very traumatic” marriage, one she labels as “emotionally abusive” and “restrictive.”

“It was emotionally abusive,” she writes in her book. “It was very restrictive. I didn’t realize how bad it was until I was away from it for a while.” 

Today, Crystal is on a path to healing and self-discovery. Her book, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself, is not just a memoir of her Playboy Bunny days but a journey towards self-love after Hugh’s death. “I’m in a much better place,” Chrystal says. “I feel that I will always be a work in progress, but I feel that I finally have true freedom.”

In a move symbolizing her new beginning, she’s gone back to her maiden name, Harris. “At the mansion, I lost my identity,” she reflects. “It’s crucial to own your power.”

Crystal’s book, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself, is out now, offering an insider’s view of her life and the intricate dynamics of her relationships.