Hugh Hefner allegedly recorded celebrities and other notable figures having sex in his Playboy Mansion bedroom, a revelation that has emerged in the years following his death. According to former Playboy Playmate Sondra Theodore, who dated Hefner for nearly five years, he had tapes of almost everyone who entered his bedroom. Theodore recalled being shocked the first time she saw herself on Hefner’s bedroom screens and mentioned that other women had similar reactions. While Hefner would offer to turn off the cameras if anyone objected, it didn’t necessarily mean the tapes were never made.
Stefan Tetenbaum, Hefner’s valet for several years, confirmed these claims, stating that Hefner would record everything in his bedroom, including encounters involving celebrities, athletes, and his Playboy models. Tetenbaum described Hefner as a voyeur who would stage these encounters like a director, preferring not to participate himself. He suggested that the tapes gave Hefner significant leverage over the men involved, as many women were devastated by what they were expected to do and the fact that these recordings existed.
Hefner’s ex-wife, Crystal Hefner, revealed in 2022 that she had discovered thousands of disposable camera photos, which she immediately destroyed. These images were allegedly part of Hefner’s extensive collection of compromising material. Holly Madison, another former Playmate who dated Hefner for seven years, previously claimed that Hefner kept “all kinds of naked pictures” of women as a means of blackmail. The fate of the tapes, or which celebrities might have been featured on them, remains unknown.
These disturbing allegations paint a troubling picture of the power dynamics and exploitation that occurred at the Playboy Mansion. They also raise questions about the extent of Hefner’s influence and the ethical implications of his actions. As more former Playmates come forward with their stories, the legacy of the Playboy Mansion and its notorious owner continues to be scrutinized and reassessed.
