He did much less harm than any politician you'd care to name.
He fought for free speech, not just to publish nudes, but "subversive" interviews, cartoons and thoughts.
Back in the day, the interviews were often VERY good, and the photos almost always - some of the best photographers, makeup people, set dressers and artists in the world worked for Hefner's magazine.
When I was a kid, that black DC-9 with the bunny on the tail used to park about a half-mile from my house. We'd ride our bikes over to gaze at it through the fence. It was cool.
Michaelangelo, DaVinci, unknown Greeks, unknown Romans, unknown cavemen and thousands of other gifted artists portrayed nude women (and men) in paintings and sculptures. Would they have used cameras if they'd been available? Should they be reviled for nekkid wimmin as you revile Hefner? If not, why not, and highlight the differences in settings, poses and clothing arrangement or lack thereof, being mindful we're discussing Playboy, not Penthouse or Hustler.
The Vargas Girls were amazing.
Barbie Benton was the best. Still is.
Now, pull the stick out of your ass and enjoy the weekend!
He fought for free speech, not just to publish nudes, but "subversive" interviews, cartoons and thoughts.
Every empty headed asshole who wants to babble can, and does, claim to be an exponent of free speech. Every equally empty headed asshole will agree with it.
What we don't hear about is the suicides, drug use, and infighting among the ditzes that constitute his "special women" that he used for a few nights in his total environment bed.
He was a psychopathic user of nice looking but brainless and interchangeable young women. This made him the envy of every male teenager in the country and set a life style. Many of them are still teenagers 40 years later.
