Hugh Hefner's Widow Crystal Wants To Revert To Maiden Name: 'I'm Done With That'
By Afouda Bamidele on January 23, 2024 at 6:00 AM EST
Hugh Hefner's widow, Crystal Hefner, expressed that the famous Hefner last name is not bringing her much benefit anymore, especially after writing a book about their marriage.
As a result, she has decided to distance herself from the Hefner name and expressed her intention to change it back to her maiden name, Crystal Harris.
Crystal Is Over Being Tied To Hugh Hefner's Name Years After His Death
Hefner's third and final wife, Crystal, recently appeared on Rachel Uchitel's podcast "Miss Understood." During the conversation, Rachel asked Crystal about the impact of the Hefner name on her.
Crystal, who was married to Hugh until his death in 2017, revealed that Hefner's secretary promptly changed her last name to the late Playboy boss' after their marriage in 2012.
She shared that her perspective on being a Hefner started to evolve during the process of writing her new memoir, "Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself." The experience caused her to reflect on her feelings about carrying the Hefner name. In her words:
"For the last five years before writing the book, I just hid out. So, I wasn't really around people to talk about it or really dive into it. But since the book has come out, now, it's something that I'm internally thinking about. I don't want to be Hefner. I'm done with that. I've closed the book now that I've written it and I feel like my name needs to go back to what it originally was."
Aside from giving her a chance to reflect on the effect of the magazine publisher's name on her life, Crystal's memoir also allowed her to talk about their relationship dynamic. For starters, the television personality opened up about how the deceased 91-year-old proposed to her due to her inability to commit to him at the time.
However, following a tumultuous relationship with Dr. Phil's son, Jordan, Crystal returned to become Hugh's wife. Despite acknowledging her love for the accomplished entrepreneur, she candidly admitted to never being "in love" with him.
As reported by The Blast, while Crystal served as Hugh's caregiver in his final years, the public facade of their relationship revealed a profound lack of emotional connection. Sharing her thoughts during an interview, she stated:
"I realized I was dealing with a really big power imbalance. It seemed like a world of success and fantasy, but everyone's having to sleep with an 80-year-old. There's a price. Everything has a price."
One such "price," as Crystal detailed in her memoir, was Hugh's instruction for her to "only say good things" about him, setting the tone for a narrative that went beyond the opulence of the Playboy mansion. She recounted his words to her: "I want you to continue my legacy going forward... and I want to remind you to only say good things about me."
Initially honoring her promise, she later broke her silence, exposing the strict rules imposed by Hugh, including a weekly allowance with specific instructions on enhancing the girlfriends' appearances.
This controlled narrative extended to trivial matters like nail polish colors, restricting options to neutral shades and even dictating hair color, leading to painful scalp experiences in pursuit of the international icon's definition of beauty.
Crystal Talks Hugh's Constant Use Of S—x Drugs
In an August 2023 interview, Crystal disclosed that the excessive use of Viagra ultimately contributed to hearing issues for her late husband. As reported by US media, Hugh reportedly overindulged in the s—x drug to satisfy his sexual desires as he aged.
The 91-year-old, living up to his playboy reputation, was known for engaging in activities at the iconic mansion with multiple women, including Crystal. As Crystal recalled, their activities sometimes involved group s—x, for which Hugh would use Viagra to enhance his performance.
"It was embarrassing. I don't know the most people there'd been in our bedroom at one time, but — a lot. Pretty bad," Crystal divulged during the interview. Hugh's frequent use of Viagra came with consequences, and he experienced hearing loss in one ear — a known side effect for those who repeatedly used the blue pill.
Despite the potential concern over hearing loss resulting from his use of Viagra, Hugh reportedly embraced it. For him, maintaining his ability to engage in those activities took precedence over the potential consequences. Crystal claimed, "Hef always said he'd rather be deaf and still able to have s—x. Weird."
