Crystal Hefner has slapped Holly Madison with a cease and desist notice over “malicious” comments she made about her late husband and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.
In court documents obtained by TMZ, Crystal, who was married to the Playboy magazine publisher from 2012 until his death in 2017, said Madison, 44, caused her “serious harm.”
The 38-year-old claimed the comments Madison made on the “Girls Next Level” podcast last month were “malicious and intentionally misleading,” and claimed they were damaging to her reputation.
During the May 12 podcast episode, Madison and her co-host Bridget Marquardt spoke to Hefner’s son Marston Hefner.
Madison and Marquardt both dated the late mogul and were considered to be his “main girlfriends,” alongside Kendra Wilkinson.
Among the myriad of Hefner-related topics covered, the trip discussed Crystal’s book “Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself,” released in January.
Madison implied that Crystal kept the late Playboy editor “doped up” in his final years in a bid to exploit him financially.
Responding to the allegations, Crystal’s legal team told the outlet that “nothing could be further from the truth,” calling the claim “entirely false.”
“As we understand it, Ms. Hefner was steadfast in her commitment to Mr. Hefner through his final days, ensuring that he was cared for and received the best medical attention available,” Crystal’s team of lawyers told the outlet.
Taking to X on Monday, Madison responded to Crystal’s legal letter.
“Imagine running a free speech foundation and then sending someone a cease and desist for talking,” she wrote. “Your attorney can’t even find my correct email address.
Madison then posted a clip of the letter on a toilet roll dispenser.
Crystal’s lawyer told TMZ in a statement, “Ms. Hefner will not have her name and reputation tarnished by opportunists. We stand by the contents of the letter and will enforce Ms. Hefner’s rights to the fullest.”
The Post has reached out to reps for Madison and Hefner for comment.
Hugh Hefner died in September 2017 at the age of 91.
After his death, several former Playboy bunnies have come forward about the late media mogul.
In an explosive 10-part A&E documentary, “Secrets of Playboy,” which was released in 2022, Hefner was described as a “predator” by his ex-girlfriend Sondra Theodore.
The damning 10-part “Secrets of Playboy” series unmasked the once-heralded late mogul and revealed ugly truths about the man who built his sex empire on the backs of vulnerable women.
The documentary unfurled shocking allegations about the hedonism that surrounded Hefner and reportedly involved drugs, orgies, sexual assault — and even bestiality.
Madison, who was Hefner’s girlfriend from 2001 until 2008, said the atmosphere felt “cult-like” at times.
