Crystal Harris Says Public Criticism From Holly and Bridget Led to Death Threats

Nearly a decade after the death of Hugh Hefner, tensions within the Playboy universe are once again making headlines.

Crystal Harris, Hefner’s widow, is pushing back against his former girlfriends Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt, accusing them of fueling online harassment against her through ongoing public criticism.

Harris says the former “Girls Next Door” stars have spent years building platforms that portray her as a villain under the banner of empowerment and accountability. Instead of addressing disagreements privately, she claims, they have chosen to air grievances publicly — leading to a surge of hostile messages, gaslighting and even death threats directed at her on social media.

Earlier this month, Harris and her attorney, Gloria Allred, held a press conference alleging that Hefner kept a sex diary containing thousands of nude images, some of which may involve underage individuals. Harris says the materials are set to be scanned and digitized by the Hugh Hefner Foundation, an organization from which she was recently removed. She claims she was ousted after raising concerns about the diary’s contents and is now seeking to prevent the materials from being released while calling for an investigation.

Following the press conference, Madison and Marquardt discussed Harris on their podcast, Girls Next Level, questioning her motives and suggesting the timing of her claims was suspicious given her recent removal from the foundation.

Harris maintains she has attempted to resolve tensions privately but says her outreach has been met with further public criticism. She argues that continued public commentary keeps the controversy alive and profitable while exposing her to online abuse.

Her message to Madison and Marquardt: if they truly seek accountability, she says, the conversation should happen privately — without encouraging online pile-ons.