Crystal Hefner, the widow of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, is pulling no punches as her family feud with Hugh’s children continues to boil over. In a fresh round of public claims, the 39-year-old former model and DJ alleges the late mogul “didn’t even like his own kids” and calls his son Cooper Hefner a “narcissist.” With accusations of manipulation, control, and disputed inheritance flying back and forth, the Playboy legacy is facing one of its most bizarre and bitter chapters yet.
Crystal, who was married to Hugh from 2012 until his death in 2017, says she was left the $5 million Hollywood Hills home the couple shared — but not much else. She denies accusations from Hugh’s children, particularly Marston and Cooper, that she exploited her husband’s declining health to influence his will or control his estate.
The Memoir That Opened Pandora’s Box
The drama escalated with the release of Crystal’s tell-all memoir, Only Say Good Things, which described her marriage to Hugh as isolating and emotionally complicated. In interviews, Crystal claimed that Hefner admitted to being a poor father and actively avoided interaction with his children. “He would tell me he wasn’t a good dad,” she said. “He’d shoo them out of the room when they tried to talk to him.”
These remarks reignited tensions with Hugh’s children, especially Cooper and Marston Hefner. Both have spoken out against Crystal’s narrative, suggesting she’s rewriting history to maintain public sympathy — and possibly justify how much of Hugh’s fortune ended up in her name.
Marston Hefner Hits Back
Marston, 35, took the gloves off in a recent interview on the Girls Next Level podcast, accusing Crystal of manipulating his father during his final years. “She controlled the guest list, the access, the mansion — everything,” he claimed. “Why would someone change their will when they didn’t even know what day it was?”
Marston suggested that Crystal may have leveraged her role as Hugh’s wife and caregiver to take charge of estate decisions during a time when the Playboy founder was suffering serious health issues. He also implied that her use of non-disclosure agreements may have been a cover to shield the world from seeing Hugh’s deteriorating state.
Crystal Fires Back
Crystal has responded to the backlash with a mix of defiance and pity. “I feel that obviously [Marston] has a lot of pain and hurt still from the relationship or lack thereof with his father,” she said. Regarding allegations that she dosed Hugh with medications or isolated him from his children, Crystal denies any wrongdoing. “I was married to him. I was the closest to Hef. I cared for him until the very end.”
She insists she only received the Hollywood Hills home and nothing more — and has taken steps to close the Hefner chapter of her life. Last month, she filed to legally revert to her maiden name, Crystal Margaret Harris.
What About Cooper?
Cooper Hefner, once considered the heir to the Playboy empire, has stayed relatively silent during the recent storm. But Crystal didn’t hold back, labeling him a narcissist and claiming Hugh himself voiced disappointment in his son’s behavior.
The irony? Cooper was widely seen as the one trying to modernize Playboy during his tenure. But Crystal’s claims now cast doubt on whether father and son were ever as close as the public believed.
A Fortune Worth Fighting Over
At the time of his death, Hugh Hefner’s estate was valued at approximately $43 million — far less than many assumed, given his cultural influence. The $5 million mansion Crystal now owns was reportedly purchased by Hugh during their marriage. She asserts that she was legally entitled to it, and there has been no court action reversing the transfer.
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However, the Hefner sons have made it clear that they believe their father’s will was altered under suspicious circumstances. While no formal lawsuit has been filed against Crystal, the tension continues to simmer on social media and in podcast interviews.
Crystal’s Hollywood Pivot
Since Hugh’s death, Crystal has been attempting to rebrand. She’s shed the DJ persona, adopted a wellness-focused lifestyle, and is increasingly vocal about body image, mental health, and toxic relationships. Her memoir paints a picture of a woman caught in a gilded cage — part wife, part PR manager, part scapegoat.
Critics argue that this rebranding is self-serving and at times contradictory. Marston, for one, questioned her authenticity, asking, “If you’re not interested in fame, why are you buying Instagram followers?”
The Final Chapter?
It’s unclear if any of this will result in legal action, but the public spectacle isn’t slowing down. For now, Crystal continues to speak out, reclaiming her voice and name. Whether that will heal old wounds or deepen divides within the Hefner family remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain: when the cameras stopped rolling at the Playboy Mansion, the real drama was only beginning.
