Editor’s Note: Whether on screen or off, Hollywood can always be counted on to keep us entertained. This is especially true when it comes to politics. Join us each week as we shine the spotlight on Tinseltown’s A-listers and their whacky and sometimes inspiring takes on today’s current events.
Hugh Hefner “Owned the LAPD”
Hugh Hefner and Sondra Theodore Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
In an InTouch exclusive interview, Sondra Theodore, Hugh Hefner’s ex-girlfriend, made some heavy accusations. She claimed that not only did the Playboy founder own the Los Angeles Police Department, but that he blackmailed the media, too.
Theodore, 65, is featured in A&E’s new ten-part docuseries, Secrets of Playboy. Part 1 aired on January 24. In the series, the ex-playboy girlfriend said there was so much going on at that time that wouldn’t be allowed today. From underage girls and drinking to having seven girlfriends at once, Hefner knew how to have a good time and get away with it.
According to Theodore:
“He got away with it because he owned the LAPD at the time. He had security that were at least officers and higher up, and he had protected himself in many ways with the press.”
Theodore also claimed that Hefner would invite the media to his parties because people let loose and do stupid things. He could then get pictures of their actions and use them as leverage later.
Another Hefner ex, Holly Madison, is also on the docuseries and said she felt “gaslit” into believing the Playboy founder was a nice guy. Madison, who was with Hefner from 2001 to 2008, said it was a cult-like atmosphere living at the mansion. “You had a 9 o’clock curfew, you were encouraged to not have friends over, you weren’t really allowed to leave unless it was like a family holiday,” she said.
According to the show’s synopsis, the series will “help unravel the glamours mythology created by the Playboy brand over several decades.” In a statement to E! News, a representative said, “We trust and validate women and their stories and strongly support the individuals who have come forward to share their experiences in this documentary.”
The series documents a lot of the behind-the-scenes intimate activities as well. According to the statement:
“After nearly 70 years in business, there are many elements of Playboy’s long history of which we are immensely proud, and there are elements we find unworthy of our principles. Today, we strive to live up to the positive aspects of our legacy and are proud of the work we have done in recent years to stand for freedom and equality while advancing our mission of pleasure for all. The Hefner family is no longer associated with Playboy.”
China Changes Fight Club Ending
Are you a fan of the 1999 film Fight Club? If so, you might not want to see China’s version.
Remember the ending where Edward Norton’s character, The Narrator, killed his alter-ego, Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt, just before the bombs went off? Well, you won’t see that in China’s release of the film. The country is known for its censorship but changing the ending so that the authorities win is a bit much.
No more explosions at the end. Instead, Durden is sent to a “lunatic asylum,” and the authorities foil the evil plot to save the day. A message appears to inform viewers of how the story ends:
“Through the clue provided by Tyler, the police rapidly figured out the whole plan and arrested all criminals, successfully preventing the bomb from exploding.
“After the trial, Tyler was sent to lunatic asylum receiving psychological treatment. He was discharged from the hospital in 2012.”
While fans may be upset with this change, imagine what the author, Chuck Palahniuk, felt. “This is SUPER wonderful! Everyone gets a happy ending in China,” he tweeted. And on Substack: “How amazing. I’d no idea! Justice always wins. Nothing ever exploded. Fini.”
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) threw in his two cents on Twitter, saying, “The second rule of Fight Club is ‘we will do and say whatever the Chinese communist censors tell us to do and say.’” And film director David Fincher wrote: “The first rule of Fight Club in China? Don’t mention the original ending. The second rule of Fight Club in China? Change it so the police win.”
Cheers And Jeers
Peter Dinklage (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
Sometimes, HollyWeird players make headlines for silly or bizarre happenings, so here is a collection of newsworthy doings — honorable and dishonorable — by the tenants of Tinseltown.
Snow White’s Dwarfs Get Makeover
In last week’s column, Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, Cyrano de Bergerac) called out the new remake of Snow White for having a Latino female lead while leaving the dwarfs as is. Disney has responded to his message. Doc, Sleepy, Grumpy, Sneezy, Bashful, Happy, and Dopey will now be magical characters instead of dwarfs. In a statement to The Wrap, Disney said:
“To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community. We look forward to sharing more as the film heads into production after a lengthy development period.”
Tune in next week to see what else Tinseltown has planned.
~ Read more from Kelli Ballard.
