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Who is Brande Roderick? Playboy model defends 'graceful' Hugh Hefner amid controversy

'For me, I have a real fond love for Hef, he was a wonderful person,' Brande Roderick shared about the late Playboy mogul
UPDATED JAN 24, 2022
Model Brande Roderick poses with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner at Barfly on October 19, 2002 in West Hollywood, California (Photo by David Klein/Getty Images)
Model Brande Roderick poses with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner at Barfly on October 19, 2002 in West Hollywood, California (Photo by David Klein/Getty Images)

Amid the raging controversy surrounding Hugh Hefner, former model Brande Roderick has come forward to defend the late Playboy mogul. Upcoming docuseries 'Secrets of Playboy' sparked renewed uproar over Hefner's infamous Playboy mansion, where he led quite a flamboyant life exploiting young models and prostitutes. Many former Playboy models, or Bunnies, and Hefner's exes have opened up about their scarring experiences with the millionaire. 

However, Brande Roderick happens to be one of the very few Playboy models who are defending Hefner, as she described him as a "wonderful person." Addressing the ongoing controversy, Roderick said, "For me, I have a real fond love for Hef, he was a wonderful person. I learned about art, I learned about music, you know, big band and jazz, old classic films. I learned grace from Hef, that’s one thing that I learned and got to see firsthand is the way that this major iconic man, who’s super famous, would react with everybody. … He was just so graceful, which is something you don’t see a lot of times from celebrities in Hollywood.”

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The trailer for the upcoming A&E docuseries alleges a "cult-like" atmosphere inside Hugh Hefner's mansion, notorious for the romp-fuelled parties with the whos who of Hollywood and showbiz. Reportedly, Hefner organized weekly "Pig Nights" at his home, where prostitutes would be brought in to entertain celebrities invited to the party. Hefner's former girlfriend Sondra Theodore also revealed in the docuseries that it would start with "2 pimps bringing in car loads of prostitutes from Sunset Blvd."

Sondra further added that she would try and look away from the crazy stuff that Hefner did. She also disclosed that the prostitutes who were brought to the party were not allowed to know that he had named the party 'Pig Night'. Insiders from Hefner's mansion revealed that he would usually sit at the head of the table smoking his famous pipe while the hookers were eating, drinking, watching movies with the celebrities who attended the party. However, the insiders also revealed that Hefner was not a careless party animal and he would always ensure safety. The prostitutes were ranked and quick medical checks were conducted before celebrities could take them inside rooms for sexual trysts. 'Secrets of Playboy' also explains that the evening dinner party also "served as a jumping-off point for sex parties."

Now, 2000 Playmate of The Year Awardee Brande Roderick has dismissed the allegations and weighed in her personal opinion. "Well, you’re talking to someone who was there in the ‘70s. For me, it was not like that whatsoever. In fact, there was one night at one party where security came to Hef and said, ‘There’s somebody doing cocaine in the bathroom.’ He had them kicked out and never allowed at the mansion again. He was very much against drugs," she shared in a conversation with Ashleigh Banfield. 

Roderick also slammed the women who joined the parties of their own accord but started speaking out only after Hefner's death. “How about the girls there preying on these rich men? I mean, come on, that’s ridiculous. … They were all there at their free will: No one was holding a gun to their head," she said, lamenting, "I feel so sad that I even have to defend him because he’s such an amazing person who has done so much for so many people."

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