Hugh Hefner's widow Crystal details moment she realised marriage was 'emotionally abusive'
Crystal Harris - the widow of Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner - has insisted she 'never loved' her late husband while making a number of controversial claims about alleged 'abuse' within their marriage.
The couple hit headlines back in 2012 when they tied the knot in an elaborate New Years' Eve celebration ceremony at the Playboy Mansion.
Hugh was 86 years old at the time, while Crystal was a staggering 60 years his junior at just 26.
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The pair had been dating for three years before exchanging vows, and often came under fire for the nature of their cross-generational relationship.
Crystal was often branded a 'gold-digger' by US tabloid press, while Hugh came under fire for his notorious preference for younger ladies, having previously been married twice.
That said, however, it appeared as though the duo enjoyed a rather loved-up relationship, and were often papped all over one another at red carpet appearances and high-profile award shows.
Their seemingly blissful marriage lasted until his death in 2017, aged 91.
It wasn't until Hugh had passed away that Crystal finally lifted the lid on the true nature of their relationship, claiming in several bombshell interviews that she was left feeling 'traumatised' by the marriage.
Earlier this year, the now 38-year-old has once again spoke on her time with Hugh, even going as far as to describe their romance as 'abusive'.
Speaking to E! News at the time, the ex-'Playmate' insisted that, though she 'cared' for her late husband, she often felt neglected.
"But in some ways that he treated me, I just felt, OK, this guy can't really be in love with me," she explained.
"It was very traumatic. It was emotionally abusive. It was very restrictive. I didn't realise how bad it was until I was away from it for a while."
Writing in her 2024 book, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself, Crystal claimed that Hugh had made cruel remarks about her weight, controlled her clothing and expected her to 'perform' for him upon his request after taking a 'little blue pill'.
"I never felt like I had a way out," she recalled.
"I remember being 21 and walking up the stairs to Hef's bedroom after a party and something inside me is telling me, 'This is weird'.
"But I'm like, 'OK, let's just push that down, let's not listen—and let's just go!'"
She also went on to tell PEOPLE Magazine at the time that she was 'never in love' with Hugh, describing their marriage as a 'really big power imbalance', and claiming she 'lost [herself] in the process'.
Since making her allegations, Crystal says she's found love again, having struck up a romance with new boyfriend James Ward.
Speaking to PEOPLE recently, she opened up on her new love.
"With James, my feelings are valued, validated. I am seen and I am heard."
Topics: Celebrity, US News, Sex and Relationships
Rhianna Benson