Inside the secret dark world of Hugh Hefner’s Playboy fantasy

Former Playboy bunnies have opened up about the dangers they faced in A&E Network’s upcoming ‘Secrets of Playboy’.

A seductive new trailer for A&E Network’s upcoming ‘Secrets of Playboy’ makes clear: Not all the wild antics in Hugh Hefner’s mansion life were sexy, fun times – one former Playboy bunny claims it was “dangerous”.

The 10-hour documentary series is set to premiere in early 2022.

It promises to explore “the dark reality underneath the glossy exterior of Hugh Hefner’s Playboy empire” and its “far-reaching consequences,” according to a press release.

“For nearly six decades, Hefner kept a tight rein on Playboy. Now, four years after his death, insiders, colleagues, executives and employees are ready to share the full story of what life at Playboy was truly,” the release continues.

“With the creation of the brand, Hugh Hefner defined the sexual revolution through the male perspective. His progressive views advanced rights across a wide spectrum of social causes, allowing for the freedom of sexual expression.”

A&E Network’s ‘Secrets of Playboy’ will shed light on the dark side of Hugh Hefner’s life. Picture: Supplied

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The series will feature exclusive interviews “on all levels of the Playboy ladder” including former director of Playmate promotions Miki Garcia; Hefner’s former girlfriends Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Sondra Theodore; his personal valet Stefan Tetenbaum, “bunny mother” PJ Masten and members of his staff and inner circle, including the late legend’s personal bodyguard and butler.

Hugh Hefner with Kendra Wilkinson, Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for AFI

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“He really did believe he owned these women,” Garcia said in the one-minute trailer.

“I didn’t realise that getting into the Playboy world was a dangerous choice,” Madison added.

“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 A&E executive vice president Elaine Frontain Bryant.

“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 affects of Hugh Hefner’s empire, while also exploring his legacy’s larger influence on our society and modern-day views of sexuality.”

‘I didn’t realise that getting into the Playboy world was a dangerous choice,’ Holly Madison said. Picture: A&E

With some exceptions, obituaries at the time of Hefner’s death were largely positive. Now, some years since his 2017 passing, however, it appears the media establishment is ready to grapple more deeply with the less attractive side of his legacy.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Inside the secret dark world of Hugh Hefner’s Playboy fantasy