Hugh Hefner’s former wife Kimberley Conrad has offered a strikingly different account of the late Playboy founder, describing him as a “true gentleman” just days after his widow, Crystal Harris, publicly accused him of abuse. Conrad shared an emotional Instagram tribute on October 10, 2026, amid growing controversy over Jessica Biel’s casting in the upcoming film Playmates. While Harris has urged the actress to reconsider her involvement, Conrad’s statement presents a more affectionate picture of the man she married in 1989.
The former Playboy Playmate of the Year reflected on her marriage to Hefner, their two sons and the relationship they maintained until his death in September 2017.
Conrad described him as “a true gentleman, kind, loving, generous, philanthropic, and a man of extraordinary character.”
Her tribute comes at a particularly sensitive moment, as renewed discussion of Hefner’s legacy has brought sharply contrasting accounts of life at the Playboy Mansion back into the spotlight.
Kimberley Conrad Remembers Her Marriage to Hugh Hefner
Conrad married Hefner in 1989, and the couple welcomed two sons, Marston and Cooper. Although they separated in 1998, their divorce was not finalised until 2010.
In her Instagram statement, Conrad recalled the affection she continued to feel for Hefner even after their separation. She described their relationship as deeply loving and said his death had left a lasting absence in her life.
She also expressed gratitude for the years they spent together and the family they raised.
Notably, Conrad did not explicitly name Crystal Harris or Jessica Biel in her tribute. Although its timing places the statement within the ongoing Playmates controversy, it should not automatically be interpreted as a direct response to every allegation Harris has made.
Why Crystal Harris Asked Jessica Biel to Reconsider Playmates
The disagreement surrounding Hefner’s legacy intensified after Harris shared a message she had sent to Biel on October 8.
Harris, who married Hefner in 2012 and remained his wife until his death in 2017, urged the actress to reconsider portraying his fictional wife if the upcoming film intends to romanticise him or the Playboy lifestyle.
She alleged that she experienced sexual, emotional, financial and physical abuse during their relationship. Harris has previously discussed her experiences in her 2024 memoir, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself.
Her allegations represent a markedly different account from Conrad’s affectionate recollections. However, one woman’s positive experiences do not disprove another woman’s allegations, just as those allegations do not establish that everyone associated with Hefner experienced the same treatment.
What Is Jessica Biel’s Playboy Movie About?
Written and directed by Lorraine Nicholson, Playmates is a coming-of-age film set around the Playboy Mansion.
Bill Pullman will portray Hugh Hefner, while Biel plays a fictional former Playmate who becomes his wife. The character is not specifically based on either Conrad or Harris.
The story primarily follows 13-year-old Elle, played by Indiana Elle, who befriends an aspiring Playmate portrayed by Lily-Rose Depp.
For now, Biel has not publicly responded to Harris’s request, and the film’s release date remains unannounced.
Conrad and Harris’s contrasting statements have added another dimension to the discussion surrounding Playmates. The larger question is how the film will portray the Playboy world while acknowledging the complicated and sometimes conflicting experiences of the women who lived within it.
