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A&E's new docuseries "Secrets of Playboy" was released recently. Secrets are spilled from women who were a part of the Playboy Mansion and the stories are gut-wrenching and infuriating. One story, in particular, is that of Holly Madison, who stayed in the mansion due to the fear of Hefner releasing photos of her in sexual acts. This was later confirmed by Hefner's widow, Crystal, when she tweeted to Madison that she destroyed many of these photos.
This story is just skimming the surface about other crazy stories and accusations. Every media outlet I see reporting on this calls these stories shocking revelations.
But are they?
When I first learned about the Playboy Mansion when I was a teenager, I thought it was a strange premise. An old man surrounded by gorgeous women in a mansion, that entertained other men with women made to be subservient?
Hefner ran an empire based on the hyper-sexualization of women that was little more than a strange bunny-themed cult.
...And people are shocked it turns out he was a bad guy? I'm more shocked that society built up this man and idolized his world and position, giving him power and setting a standard on what a masculine man is, and what women should strive to be.
I will be tuning into every episode of this A&E docuseries, but not because I'm shocked by these no-brainer accusations and view into the twisted world he created. I will be tuning in because the women that were abused for so long deserve their stories to be heard. It's time society stops putting men like Hefner on a pedal stool.