Featured Image Credit: J. Merritt/Enos Solomon/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Topics: Film and TV, Hugh Hefner, Celebrity
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Film and TV, Hugh Hefner, Celebrity
The Playboy Mansion has always remained somewhat of a mystery, with many questions regarding the antics of late Playboy boss Hugh Hefner and his 'bunnies' remaining unanswered.
In 2021, model and former resident of the house Holly Madison took part in the A&E documentary Secrets of a Playboy, in which she opened up on some of the dark sides of the Playboy lifestyle.
Madison - who dated Playboy founder Hefner for seven years until they parted ways in 2008 - previously described their relationship as a 'false paradise'.
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Hefner died on 27 September, 2017 at the age of 91, due to sepsis from an infection.
And this week, mum-of-two Madison is reiterating her indifference to her former employer's death.
"When he passed away, everybody expected me to have some big reaction or post about it on social media, and it just felt weird," the 43-year-old told People.
"I didn't have any emotional attachment to him anymore in any way."
In the years leading up to Hefner's death, Madison went public with the trauma she faced during her romance with Hefner in her book Down the Rabbit Hole.
"I'd already come out talking about what a toxic relationship this was for me," she told the publication. "Why am I supposed to post a memorial on my Instagram?"
Madison left the illusive mansion almost 15 years ago, later admitting that she'd developed body dysmorphia due to Hefner's constant judgment.
She said: "Not relief at all, because I felt like I had taken myself kind of out of that universe pretty solidly. But it was a really odd time."
Madison went on: "For me, after leaving that relationship, I kind of felt like he had always interacted with me in such a fake way.
"Because every interaction he had with me was all about control or this fantasy he had of a relationship. It almost felt like playing house in a way."
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Following the success of the original documentary, a year after its release, another season was launched, which included interviews with other ex-'bunnies'.
Many former models alleged that numerous acts of sexual and drug abuse took place under Hefner's mansion at the socialite hotspot.
Prior to its release, Playboy released a statement disassociating itself from the multi-millionaire.
And yet, Madison's book was met with a wave of backlash upon its release, after, in her own words, she was branded 'snarky' by readers.
"There's still people who want to attack me for telling my truth, even if it has nothing to do with them," she explained.
"Just because when you're coming from the mansion, it's kind of this high-stakes environment where people attach who they are to this title of being a playmate or being associated with Playboy, so they don't ever want to hear a bad word about it."
Madison added: "And it just gets really catty even now with some people, but those people aren't in my life, so it's okay."