Upcoming ‘Secrets Of Playboy’ Documentary Exposes Dark Reality Of Hugh Hefner And His Playboy Mansion
Four years after Hugh Hefner’s death, the secretive inside world of Playboy is being exposed.
The A&E Network will premiere a 10-hour documentary series titled Secrets of Playboy in early 2022. The documentary will “explore the dark reality underneath the glossy exterior of Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Empire.”
The series will feature never seen before interviews with Playboy insiders, including former Director of Playmate Promotions Miki Garcia, Hefner’s past girlfriends Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Sondra Theodore, and Hefner’s personal valet Stefan Tetenbaum, among others.
According to A&E’s announcement, “Secrets of Playboy will explore the hidden truths behind the fable and philosophy of the Playboy empire through a modern-day lens. The series delves into the complex world Hugh Hefner created and examines its far-reaching consequences on our culture’s view of power and sexuality.”
The docuseries will examine how “the Playboy empire was both a beacon of progress and a gateway into a much darker world. With the creation of the brand, Hugh Hefner defined the sexual revolution through the male perspective...Yet intertwined with the glossy façade of a brand that seemingly celebrated women was a more sinister reality that for decades allowed nefarious conduct to flourish. The series explores how the Playboy machine was a powerful force that, at its worst, manipulated women in a toxic environment, silencing their voices, pitting them against one another, and opening the door to sexual predators.”
“The fantasy world of Playboy has been shrouded in secrecy for decades and we are proud to lift the veil on these long-hidden stories,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for A&E. “Breaking down barriers and exposing the truth, Secrets of Playboy is a masterful example of brave storytelling that takes an unflinching look at the personal effects of Hugh Hefner’s empire, while also exploring his legacy’s larger influence on our society and modern-day views of sexuality.”