Holly Madison hosts ‘The Playboy Murders,’ displays on Hugh Hefner abuse

Holly Madison is aware of concerning the darkish aspect of the Playboy world higher than anybody, so the previous Women Subsequent Door star’s new gig is not too shocking. Madison hosts The Playboy Murders, a six-part true crime sequence exploring numerous tragedies that intersected with the model and way of life made well-known by her ex-boyfriend, Hugh Hefner.

“I simply felt like I may relate to a few of these victims as a result of they have been coming from the identical form of profession or the identical form of locations that I did,” Madison tells Yahoo forward of Monday night time’s premiere, saying she was “instantly compelled” by the premise.

“I hadn’t heard about so many of those tales and I believed I knew every part about Playboy historical past and about what occurred to all of the Playmates and every part,” she provides. “So I actually wished to dive deeper into it.”

The premiere episode on Investigative Discovery (ID) appears to be like on the 2009 murder of model and Playboy hostess Jasmine Fiore, who was discovered useless and dismembered in a dumpster. Her husband, Ryan Alexander Jenkins, beat Fiore in a jealous rage earlier than mutilating her. (Jenkins, who appeared on the VH1 actuality sequence Megan Desires a Millionaire, later died of suicide.) Though Madison moved out of the Playboy Mansion one 12 months prior, she knew about Fiore’s homicide because it made nationwide information. The fact star feels protecting of Fiore, in a manner, as she is aware of what it is prefer to be in an abusive relationship.

“I really feel like what I skilled with Hef was undoubtedly emotional and verbal abuse. And I ended up leaving after so a few years as a result of the verbal abuse was simply getting so dangerous I could not stand it anymore,” Madison recollects. “Once I inform my story, there’s so many individuals who wanna say, ‘Effectively, why did not you allow? Why did you keep for thus lengthy?’ And I like speaking about that form of a factor as a result of I simply assume there’s such a misunderstanding about it and I can relate.”

Madison continues, “Once I was younger I’d hear tales of celebrities in abusive relationships and form of the general public’s response was like, ‘Effectively, in the event you did not depart after the very first thing that went unsuitable, you already know, it is your fault for staying.’ That was form of the perspective. And I bear in mind considering that too earlier than I actually had that have myself.”

Madison moved into the mansion and commenced relationship Hefner in 2001 when she was simply 21 years outdated. The mannequin says relationship the Playboy founder made her notice “how complicated” and “layered the character of those sorts of relationships will be.”

“At first every part appears so fantastic and also you’re being love bombed and also you assume this particular person’s a tremendous particular person. So when one thing does go off the rails a bit bit, you make excuses for it and also you assume it is the exception. You are questioning what’s unsuitable with you and also you’re struggling to form of repair it,” she shares. “So, I do love talking on behalf of the victims and making an attempt to clarify to different folks that abusive relationships aren’t that easy and so they’re not that simple to get out of. And it isn’t that particular person’s fault in the event that they did not see the primary signal and run as a result of no one actually operates like that. Human beings are complicated. You see one dangerous factor about anyone [and] you are not psychic. You do not know that they’ll proceed to be like that perpetually.”

Madison first lifted the curtain on the Playboy world in 2015’s memoir Down the Rabbit Gap. She spoke extra in depth concerning the trauma endured in her relationship as a part of final 12 months’s Secrets and techniques of Playboy. Hefner was accused of physical and emotional abuse by former girlfriends within the docuseries, which basically served as his #MeToo second. Madison says it has been considerably liberating to have among the darkness that went on spill out within the public.

“I’ve had very blended feelings about it,” she admits, noting she did not watch the episode she participated in. “I watched all people else’s episode and each time. … I might have a nightmare. It is rather a lot. It is actually heavy. However I’m happy with different folks for telling their tales and I’ve to confess, it does really feel a bit bit vindicating.”

Madison seems like “so many individuals” did not imagine her when she got here ahead together with her story years in the past.

“Each time I advised my story I used to be getting backlash. However once I heard that so many different ladies have been coming ahead [in Secrets of Playboy], I undoubtedly wished to be there for them on their aspect. I do know what it seems like to return out and say one thing and never have anyone have your again so I wished to be supportive of that,” Madison provides. “So I am very happy with all these ladies.”

Though Madison says she endured emotional and verbal abuse, she felt bodily protected whereas dwelling on the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif.

“I did not concern for my security. If you’re up there, you are on this gated property and also you’re surrounded by safety, so you actually really feel protected. And that was one of many issues that appealed to me once I determined to maneuver in,” the Women Subsequent Degree podcast host shares. Nevertheless, Madison was afforded a luxurious different ladies weren’t.

“For therefore many ladies who determine to develop into a centerfold, you already know, they’re dropped at the mansion after they do their shoot and every part, so you’re feeling this sense of safety. However then after that you simply’re simply going again into the true world,” she explains. “And that is after being on this journal the place all people’s seeing you nude. Individuals form of really feel like they know you and really feel like they [should] have some form of entry? And if anyone has the unsuitable thought, that may simply go horribly unsuitable.”

ID’s new present, which Madison additionally govt produces, examines a number of tragedies that plagued the Playboy empire.

“There’s so many ladies who’ve labored for Playboy over time and all people’s story’s completely different,” Madison says. “From the skin, particularly when my TV present was on within the 2000s, folks would solely see the actually glamorous, enjoyable aspect. And it simply regarded like you did not have a care on the earth in the event you have been a part of Playboy. And, after all, you already know that is not true … these are actual folks and I wished to share these tales.”

The Playboy Murders airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery and Discovery+.