Holly Madison is opening up about Hugh Hefner‘s lack of concern amid heavy drug use at the Playboy Mansion.
On the latest episode of the podcast Girls Next Level out on Monday, former Girls Next Door co-stars and hosts Holly and Bridget Marquardt sat down with Hef’s one-time girlfriend Stacy Burke to reminisce on their time with the Playboy mogul. While chatting about all things sex, parties, and drugs, Holly revealed she was often seriously concerned for the models’ safety — but Hugh had no qualms whatsoever!
On one specific evening, she remembered drinking champagne at a club before everyone got into a limo and went back to the mansion. Bridget then asked if Hugh had offered her a quaalude, a drug the magazine publisher allegedly had at most of his events. Holly has claimed Hugh called them “thigh-openers” and would supply them to the ladies he invited to his bedroom. Ick.
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The Holly’s World alum went on to note that Hefner didn’t offer her any of the pills the first night, but he did “later on,” though she was “too scared to take one” at first. Holly continued:
“Some of the girls told me the reason they took it was because they didn’t want to drink and they wanted to lose weight, so they would take it instead of drinking.”
Since she often didn’t accept the drugs, Holly revealed that other women would ask to buy them from her. Bridget experienced the same thing and even “got scolded” for not taking them since the girls were worried he’d “stop giving them to all of us” if some people refused. Holly wasn’t particularly worried about that — she was more concerned about what would happen to the girls who did consume the drugs alongside other substances. She reflected:
“I remember asking him once, I was like, ‘Aren’t you scared to like give those quaaludes out?’ Sometimes he would bring girls home from the club and you don’t know what they’ve been drinking or what they’re taking or what drugs they do. I go, ‘Aren’t you scared to give those to people and then what if somebody overdosed, what if that was the thing?'”
She even thought there was a chance for a Boogie Nights scenario — as in, leaving a girl outside a hospital after an overdose. Damn. When she asked Hugh if he was “afraid to do that” she claims he replied, “yeah, that’s a thought.” That’s all he had to say?!
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The 43-year-old went on to insist Hugh acted like he “didn’t care and was nonchalant” about the potential issue. She continued:
“I don’t know why he thought he was so untouchable. There had to be some kind of a plan in his head, if something like that happened, what would he do. But I guess he wasn’t worried about it.”
When Stacy noted how “weird” it was that nothing ever happened, Bridget shockingly suggested maybe something did occur, but it was covered up. Oof.
Claims that the controversial businessman was handing out quaaludes first arose in Holly’s book, Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny, which was released before Hugh’s death. While quaaludes certainly weren’t the only drugs being offered up at the mansion, they’re noteworthy for being the same drugs Bill Cosby allegedly used when he sexually assaulted several women. At the time of the book’s release, Hugh made light of the allegations, telling UsWeekly:
“Over the course of my life I’ve had more than my fair share of romantic relationships with wonderful women. Many moved on to live happy, healthy, and productive lives, and I’m pleased to say remain dear friends today. Sadly, there are a few who have chosen to rewrite history in an attempt to stay in the spotlight. I guess, as the old saying goes: You can’t win ’em all!”
Pretty awful…
It really is a miracle there weren’t more reports of issues at the mansion, given everything we know now. Reactions, Perezcious readers? Tell us in the comments (below)!
[Image via Adriana M. Barraza/WENN & Holly Madison/Instagram]
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