Las Vegas Weekly

May 6, 2009 · 6 AM

Hef clears up controversy over which gal pal he wants in the Mansion

By Robin Leach

Hugh Hefner and Crystal Harris celebrate Hef's 83rd birthday at the Palms.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner confessed that he hit an “emotional speed bump” over the bust-up of his seven-year romance with Holly Madison. It led to a slew of headlines that even though he was in a new love match with Crystal Harris, Hef would take back Holly in an instant to The Playboy Mansion.

Click HERE for our April 7 video interview and story during Hef’s 83rd birthday.

The star of The Girls Next Door promptly said that they’d both moved on with their lives and that she wasn’t going back to the bunny hutch. I reported Holly’s denial when the story broke in Los Angeles Confidential magazine that Hef said he’d welcome his former flame back home. Click HERE for that April 30 story.

As the headlines swirled, Hef made a quick return visit to Las Vegas for the unveiling and introduction of Ida Ljungqvist as the 50th anniversary Playmate of the Year. That took place during the Palms festivities with owner George Maloof this past weekend, and Hef brought Crystal and 19-year-old twins Karissa and Kristina Shannon with him.

Hef says the rumors of wanting Holly back are simply false and bizarre. He added that he has no idea how they started!

“I am now in one of the best relationships in memory with Crystal and the twins. I’m not going to screw it up with former girlfriends,” the 83-year-old mogul said emphatically. “Holly is a good friend. She will always be a good friend, but nothing more.”

Crystal celebrated her 23rd birthday three days before they flew here. He gave her an English cocker spaniel puppy.

“I would not trade Crystal for anybody else in the world,” Hef summed up.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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