Crystal Hefner, third wife of the late Hugh Hefner, has plans to revert to her maiden name. Upon completion of her doctorate in psychology, the former Playboy playmate wants to go by Dr. Crystal Harris, PhD. She wants to be done with the Hefner name as her Playmate identity still defines her six years after being widowed.
Since the passing of the Playboy founder in 2017, Harris has returned to her studies in psychology. Something she gave up after receiving an invitation to one of the famous Playboy Mansion at age 21. She caught the attention of Hef, aged 81, that evening, and was reportedly ‘intimate’ with him- securing her place in the mansion. The two married on New Year’s Eve 2012.
Shortly before his passing Hefner requested for Harris to write a book, and to “only say good things,” the subsequent title of the book. Harris did write “Only Say Good Things,” but did not exactly fulfil Hefner’s request. She detailed the controlling, narcissistic, and co-dependent person he really was. Hefner dictated the exact shade of nail polish Harris was to wear- pink, pale, sheer, never matte. If her roots started showing, Hefner would tap her on the head, indicating she needed to get them touched up. Harris was never allowed to travel, (something she enjoys doing now). There was even a 6pm curfew, so that Harris never missed dinner with him, chicken soup.
Does anyone else find it ironic that Hefner passed away a month before the #MeToo movement began? Since his passing, several former Playmates and girlfriends have spoken about what really went on behind the mansion doors.
The man took so much Viagra that he went deaf in one ear, which is apparently a common side effect. “Hef always said he’d rather be deaf and still able to have sex. Weird,” a passage in the book reads. At this point, let’s just say there’s A LOT to unpack when it comes to Hefner.
Looking back on her marriage to a man 60 years her senior, Harris wouldn’t allow her own daughter to what she did. Harris is still “Team Hef,” but not as much as she used to be. [She was also not a part of the recent “Secrets of Playboy” series, which goes deep into the various allegations of manipulation, rape, drugging, and various other horrible things we won’t go into details of here.] She did stay with him to the bitter end, protecting his failing health from the public eye.
Crystal is the president of the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation, dedicated to supporting free speech, something Hef fought for his entire career.
“Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself” is available for pre-order.
