What Playboy Has Said About A&E's 'Secrets of Playboy' Documentary and Hugh Hefner

Playboy has pre-emptively released a statement distancing itself from Hugh Hefner and others ahead of the new docuseries Secrets of Playboy.

The upcoming documentary series starts on A&E on Monday, January 24, 2022, and it seems the Playboy leadership team is expecting things to be revealed from which it wants to disassociate itself from.

Secrets of Playboy will feature archival footage of the inner workings of Playboy while Hefner ran the company, and exclusive interviews with insiders from the Playboy Mansion, and the company. The series is expected to "recount allegations of abhorrent actions by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and others," according to a letter issued by the PLBY Group leadership team.

What Playboy Has Said About the Documentary

The PLBY Group, the owners of Playboy, published an open letter online addressed to the team, partners and community.

Apparently addressing issues that will likely be brought forth by the docuseries, the letter opens by saying: "First and foremost, we want to say: we trust and validate women and their stories, and we strongly support the individuals who have come forward to share their experiences. As a brand with sex positivity at its core, we believe safety, security and accountability are paramount, and anything less is inexcusable."

The PLBY Group leadership team goes on to further distance itself from the previous regime and reminds everyone that the Playboy brand is no longer associated with the Hefner family. "Today, our organization is run by a workforce that is more than 80% female, and together we are building upon the aspects of our legacy that have made a positive impact, including serving as a platform for free expression and a convener of safe conversations on sex, inclusion and freedom," reads the letter.

The statement then goes on to detail the next plan of action—to listen, which is made bold and italicized on the open letter.

"It is critically important that we listen as these women share their stories and that we continue to fight harassment and discrimination in all its forms, support healing and education, redefine tired and sexist definitions of beauty and advocate for inclusivity across gender, sexuality, race, age, ability and zip codes," the PLBY Group Leadership Team wrote.

The statement includes links to the nonprofits, Rainn and Better Help.

Early trailers for Secrets of Playboy have detailed drug use at the Playboy Mansion, and former Playboy Bunny Holly Madison called the environment there cult-like.

Secrets of Playboy begins with a two-hour premiere on Monday January 24 at 9/8c on A&E.