With the recent passing of Playboy Magazine’s founder and publisher, the importance of Hefner’s legacy comes into question.  Needless to say, Hefner played a pivotal role in the culture of female sexual exploitation that still remains today.  However, as both a known social rights activist and the father to many former Playmate’s , his legacy is complicated, questionable and, at some points, dark.

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Since the man’s passing, a number of celebrities have spoken out about the personality beneath the persona, including Larry King, Kim Kardashian West and, one of Hollywood’s most vocal feminists, Lena Dunham.

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And, to a degree, these celebrities are grieving the death of a producer dedicated to philanthropic causes and freedom of free speech in journalism and publication. Besides the inclusion of articles that discussed a number of controversial topics, during the beginnings of “Playboy,” Hefner was a longtime supporter of artists and entertainers of color, featuring African American photographers, writers, and models in his magazine long before it was widely accepted by mainstream media to do so. Being a man who strived for the freedom of expression all around--whether this be a woman’s freedom to Hefner was, according to CBS News, all around a supporter of the integration of the entertainment world, allowing people of color to both perform and visit his franchised clubs at a time where segregation was still rampant in America.  Though he also provided financial support toward activist Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition after Dr. King’s death, Hefner was a large supporter of Martin Luther King Jr during his lifetime, publishing one of King’s final written pieces in “Playboy Magazine.”

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Even so, his social activism does not begin and end with racial tension.  Hefner also made a his voice heard on a number of women’s rights issues, including the publication of articles that supported abortion rights as well as the end of sexual repression for both men and women.  His foundation additionally made a number of contributions to rape crisis centers and the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project.

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However, the degree to which Hefner enabled--and, in some cases, had a direct hand in--these issues in his own home is questionable.

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Though Hefner provided a platform for the “girl next door” to freely express herself sexually, his magazines still aimed their content to reflect the desires of its largely male audience.  His empire is based solely around the exploitation of the female body--glossy centerfolds that demonstrate female beauty, as long as it is as smooth, tan and voluptuous as the other models on the page. This perspective leads feminists to question whether Hefner’s efforts toward a sexually-free society have more to do with male satisfaction that women’s right to choose.

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Not to mention, the Playboy mansion is infamously the sight of many sexual assault allegations--even in Hefner’s own bedroom.  Though a number of former bunnies, including Donna D’Errico and Jenny McCarthy, spoke lovingly in his memories, playmates often spoke out about the lack of true consent or desire during their mandatory biweekly group sex sessions. These sessions were a requirement for all of Hefner’s “girlfriends,” those he specifically chose to live in the Playboy mansion and attend “club nights” with him every Wednesday and Friday.

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According to Holly Madison, former playmate and author of the book “Down the Rabbit Hole:  Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny,” following their time in the VIP sections of various clubs, Hefner’s girlfriends would be required to perform a variety of sexual acts on both Hefner himself, as well as the other participating girlfriends.  

Whether these acts were consensual, however, is questionable.  Of this experience, Madison said, “I think everybody just assumed because I was there and making it clear that I wanted to be a girlfriend that I knew something went on. And I knew something went on. I'm not stupid. But none of the girls would ever really admit to it or talk about it."

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In her book, Madison spoke of how these experiences--as well as a myriad of other disturbing experiences, such as verbal and financial abuse from Hefner--contributed to deep depression and questioning of her own self worth.  As a result, whether or not Hefner ever truly cared about his girlfriends beyond their ability to satisfy his desires is brought into question as well.

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Overall, though the world is unsure about whether or not “Playboy” can survive without its granddaddy, Hefner’s other contributions--such as how female sexuality relates to male desire--will likely stay alive for decades after his passing.