A letter signed by Playboy playmates, former bunnies, employees, and ex-girlfriends, denounced all recent allegations made against Hefner. The "Secrets of Playboy" docuseries sparked the buzz of these allegations.
PEOPLE was able to obtain the letter and share some of its contents. In the letter it read:
"We sign our names to support Hugh M. Hefner. From all we know of Hef, he was a person of upstanding character, exceptional kindness, and dedication to free thought."
The letter also explains that all of the people who have signed, have fond memories of their time in the organization and that Hefner was committed to living an honest life.
The letter also stated:
"He demonstrated a commitment to living an honest life beyond everything else."
"I proudly sign this letter in recognition of Hugh Hefner's character amid unfounded allegations in the A&E show."
While this may be true for those hundreds of signatures, it does not mean the allegations in the docuseries are untrue.
A&E's documentary series "Secrets of Playboy" was released on January 24th, 2022. Many women have since spoken out about the allegations against Hefner. Even before the docuseries, women had talked about their experience with Hefner, including Holly Madison who wrote Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny in 2015. There has also been a lot of buzz recently about the humiliation many bunnies went through including monthly weigh-ins, bruising, and body shaming.
A&E's network spokesperson released a statement saying:
"The stories shared in Secrets of Playboy are the personal experiences of the documentary's participants and deserve to be told despite how difficult they may be for some to hear."
They also explained:
"Signatures on a letter, or a different experience with Mr. Hefner or the Playboy culture, do not negate the experiences of those who have come forward to share their truth on the series and we look forward to continuing to bring these stories to light."
