Kimberly Hefner Posts Supportive Tribute to Late Husband Amid Film Casting Controversy

Kimberly Hefner, who was married to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner from 1989 until their divorce was finalized in 2010, posted a supportive message on social media following recent allegations made by his later wife, Crystal Harris. Harris has claimed she suffered sexual, emotional, financial and physical abuse during her marriage to Hefner and disclosed these claims in a memoir released in 2024.

In her post, Kimberly wrote, "I was married to Hef for over 21 years. We shared a lifetime of beautiful memories, raised two wonderful sons together, and had a deeply loving bond that remained strong until his passing on September 27, 2017 and continues with me to this day." She added that she often told him, "if you look up the word gentleman in the dictionary you would find his name and photograph," describing him as "kind, loving, generous, philanthropic, and a man of extraordinary character."

Kimberly said losing Hefner was "devastating" and that his absence is still felt, expressing gratitude for the time they shared. The comments appear amid reports that actress Jessica Biel will portray a fictionalized version of a Hefner wife in the upcoming Searchlight film “Playmates,” which follows a teenage girl living in the Playboy Mansion and her friendship with a Playmate hopeful.

The film is being written and directed by Lorraine Nicholson, with Bill Pullman cast as Hugh Hefner. Kimberly’s statement was shared publicly as part of the broader discussion surrounding the film and the recent memoir allegations.