'Girls Next Door' Fakery! Holly Madison Reveals 10 Lies Behind Hit Playboy Reality Show
June 26 2015, Updated 7:32 a.m. ET
Reality fakery has existed long before Keeping Up With the Kardashians! In her new book Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny, Holly Madison, now 35, reveals all was not as it seemed on former E! hit reality show The Girls Next Door.
Sweet Smell of Success Screening
All pretend: Madison claims Hugh Hefner, 89, created "characters" his girlfriends would play for the 2005 series. "Kendra Wilkinson is the one who wants to have fun, Bridget Marquardt is the one who wants a career, and you're the one who cares about me," she claims Hefner told her.
2005 TCA Tour Day 6 – NCTA
Ripped off! Madison reveals that neither she nor the other two girlfriends got paid for the first installment of the show. "You are replaceable," she claims the producers told them when asked about payment.
Palms Casino Resort 4th Anniversary Party
Blatant trickery! One time, Marquardt asked to speak with Hefner off-camera. But the still producers still caught the mic'd pair's conversation, and later dubbed it over stock footage of them playing with cats, Madison alleges.
Playboy Party Celebrating Hugh Hefner’s 80th Birthday
Madison admits she was often disingenuous while on camera. During her five-year anniversary party with Hef, she seemed to burst into tears of joy— but they were really tears of despair. "I was crying because of what a farce this whole thing was and how stretched thin my nerves were at that moment," she writes.
Hef And the Girls Next Door Appear At Tower Sunset
Grandpa Diva! When Hefner didn't feel he was getting enough focus on an episode, Madison says the girls were forced to "re-film" scenes to include him.
Playboy and Stoli Celebrate September Cover for “The Girls Next Door”
So much for "reality!" Madison says the three women sat down with producers to discuss what they should film.
Hugh Hefner and Holly Madison At Joya Restaurant
Though Hefner often scolded or screamed at Madison off camera, during filming he acted like the perfect gentleman. "Hef was adamant that no real drama or 'negativity' play out on the show," she writes. "We were to be depicted as a happy family, blissfully sharing our boyfriend at all times...He wanted to be portrayed as the best boyfriend ever."
Cannes – Playboy’s Hugh Hefner Celebrates His 80th Birthday
Blatant lies. During season five, Madison says she was packing up her things to move out of the mansion after breaking it off with Hef, but on screen, she acted like they were still dating.
2012 MusiCares Person Of The Year Tribute To Paul McCartney – Arrivals
Continuity flaw! When Wilkinson walked into Hefner's room to announce she's moving out for a heartfelt scene, photos of his new girlfriends, Karissa and Kristina Shannon, hung on the wall.
Bridget Marquardt Hosts Valentine’s Day At Studio 54
When Madison filmed her final scene with Hefner, she pretended she hadn't already moved to Las Vegas or met later boyfriend, Criss Angel. But during filming, she was wearing a Criss Angel sweatshirt!