Playboy Playmate says Hugh Hefner was quiet and loved board video games, disputes claims mansion was ‘cult-like’

Karin Taylor was surprised when she first realized of the accusations made towards her late pal Hugh Hefner.

It was 2022 when former Playboy bunny Holly Madison and several other different playmates spoke out in a 10-part docuseries on A&E, “Secrets and techniques of Playboy.” Madison alleged the Playboy Mansion “was very cult-like” and the ladies have been “gaslit and anticipated to consider Hef as like this actually good man.”

“It was really easy to get remoted from the surface world there,” the 43-year-old mentioned on the time. “You had a 9 o’clock curfew. You have been inspired to not have pals over. You weren’t actually allowed to go away until it was like a household vacation.”

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Madison dated Hefner from 2001 till 2008. The journal mogul died in 2017 at age 91.

“I interviewed [fellow Playmate] Ulrika Ericsson in my podcast ‘You Ought to Know’ about this,” Taylor informed Fox Information Digital. “We have been each not there, so we are able to’t say that by no means occurred after we weren’t within the room. However we are able to say that was not our expertise. So I did take slightly offense to that remark, that it was like a cult.” 

“I don’t really feel that any a part of my Playboy expertise was like that in any respect. … Hef at all times mentioned, ‘As soon as a playmate, at all times a playmate.’ However actually, as soon as your difficulty comes out, it’s achieved, and so they transfer on to the following woman.”

The previous worldwide vogue mannequin, who was a Playmate in June 1996, is now a single mom of 5 who runs Mandalay Farms in Florida. 

She hosts two podcasts, “You Ought to Know” and “Free Recommendation with Karin Taylor,” sharing her life experiences with listeners. Whereas the 51-year-old is not concerned with Playboy, she was saddened to listen to of the accusations focused on the model, which skyrocketed her to fame.

“Being a mom, I don’t pose provocatively, however I’m nonetheless a playmate and nobody’s ostracized me,” she defined. “After I look again at my expertise, it was a sisterhood the place so many ladies went on to do nice issues. Playboy was only a chapter of their lives and never their whole identification.” 

“Ulrika and I have been vogue fashions earlier than we posed for Playboy, and we simply remembered the camaraderie and acceptance from the opposite women. The fashions within the vogue trade have been rather more cutthroat. In the meantime, with the playmates, if I used to be ever in any metropolis and wanted one thing, there was at all times a woman, even when I didn’t know her, who was at all times keen to supply a serving to hand.”

“It was a really supportive atmosphere,” she added. “I used to be simply fascinated that Hugh Hefner created one thing that had a lot camaraderie and loyalty. I do know there have been plenty of playmates, bunnies and previous workers who wrote petitions and expressed they have been sad. However this was all being mentioned after Hugh Hefner’s demise. He can’t even defend himself. … So, after all, my knee-jerk response was one in all disbelief and slightly little bit of anger.”

Taylor mentioned that after seeing “Secrets and techniques of Playboy” twice, she had “very conflicting emotions.”

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“On one hand, I really feel very strongly that each lady has a proper to specific her reality,” mentioned Taylor. “I’m a agency believer that talking out will be very therapeutic. And I did really feel empathetic feelings with a number of the ladies who expressed the issues that they mentioned they went by means of.”

“My coronary heart goes out to them for the ache and misery they might have endured. I wish to assist everybody’s proper to talk out, however I can’t additionally declare that Hef did all these items as a result of I wasn’t there and that wasn’t my expertise. That wasn’t something I ever noticed. I by no means noticed medicine, I used to be by no means provided medicine.”

Taylor identified that, on the time she was on the Playboy Mansion, Hefner was married to Kimberley Conrad, who was elevating their younger youngsters. The union lasted from 1989 till 2010.

“There was no speak with women on the pool when his little sons have been operating round,” mentioned Taylor. “Hef was fairly quiet, and he preferred his routine. On Wednesday nights, he preferred enjoying board video games and playing cards along with his pals. He at all times had film evening. Kimberley and I additionally turned nice pals. After they separated, she lived subsequent door with the children. That’s when he began with the a number of girlfriends. However, by then, I wasn’t on the mansion. I didn’t go to any of the events, and I definitely was by no means in his bed room.”

“At any time when I did one thing, I’d get a letter from Hef,” she shared. “He would at all times let you understand how proud he was of you. If you happen to ever received a job or a gig, he would write you a observe congratulating you. And in the event you ever wrote to him, he at all times wrote again. He loved writing letters.” 

“And in the event you have been on the mansion and a photographer took a photograph of you, he made certain that picture was printed and mailed again to you with slightly observe. My expertise at Playboy was one in all loyalty and respect. So I do really feel conflicted about what has been mentioned. And my coronary heart goes out to his sons as a result of I’m certain it should be onerous to listen to these accusations and never have your father round to defend himself.”

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Whereas Taylor careworn she has zero regrets about showing in Playboy, it did pose some challenges through the years.

“It did harm me within the sense that I used to be as soon as not allowed to talk at a homeschooling conference,” Taylor claimed. “I used to be 41 after I tried to do this, and it was as a result of I had posed for Playboy. Though I used to be talking about on-line studying instruments, despite the fact that I had been identified within the homeschooling area for internet hosting on-line workshops, being a curriculum reviewer, I wasn’t allowed to talk. I’ve had a few imply mothers who introduced it up, and it was slightly hurtful.”

Taylor was additionally surprised when her son Googled her.

“I wasn’t ready for my son saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I simply noticed this image of you on the web. What is that this and why are you bare?’” she recalled. “That was actually onerous. As a result of, for the time being if you’re 23 years outdated, you’re not considering that you simply’re going to have 5 children and one in all them goes to look you up. Would I pose for Playboy right now? In all probability not. Do I remorse doing it? No. I believe if you remorse one thing, there’s some disgrace connected to it, and I don’t really feel disgrace.”

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“It’s additionally been attention-grabbing relationship,” she chuckled. “Individuals search for your outdated Playboy pictures and guys wish to speak to you about it. However they’re taking a look at a 23-year-old. I’m 51 now. It’s bizarre happening a date with somebody who has already seen you bare.”

Today, Taylor is having fun with a quieter tempo surrounded by animals whereas she focuses on philanthropy.

“The Hollywood events have been enjoyable. Who doesn’t love having a glam squad?” she mentioned. “However being with animals and nature has been very therapeutic for me. And all of the experiences I had made me who I’m right now.”