The late Hugh Hefner was an icon of sorts, but he definitely never won awards for a wholesome image or other charitable activities. At least, he didn't receive any public recognition for any do-gooder-isms.
And yet, Hugh Hefner built a pretty well-respected company in what some call a genius branding move. Playboy made a ton of money -- both the club and the publication -- and it's still internationally recognized despite Hugh's passing a few years ago.
Still, although he had plenty of admirers due to his ability to apparently satisfy a bevy of beautiful girlfriends, people still think poorly of Hefner. So the question becomes, did he ever actually do good in the world? Some say yes.
Was Hugh Hefner A Good Person?
Most people point to Hefner's group of girlfriends (oddly enough, most were blondes) as evidence that he was a bad dude. The thing is, even if he was paying those women for their company, he was clearly paying fair enough wages that they consented to the gig.
And that, say supporters, is what Hugh was really all about. Though he seemed like a creepy old man, he ensured that people who worked for him were there because they wanted to be (whatever their motivation might have been).
What's more, Hugh challenged some societal notions about self-expression. For example, one commenter suggested, Hugh "helped to challenge some of the toxic, sex-negative cultural norms of his time."
Though no one is saying Hugh was some kind of saint in the way he approached sex-positivity, he clearly blazed a path that still hadn't ended when he died. Besides, he helped "challenge legal restrictions on speech" that centered on intimate issues.
By now, society has realized that sweeping those matters under the rug is the opposite of helpful. And Hugh was trying to champion the cause back in the day.
Hugh Hefner even stopped endorsing Donald Trump when his former friend developed conservative leanings. A quick rundown of republican values reveals the problem: Donald shied away from the more scandalous side of the Playboy Mansion and fronted with family values instead.
Hugh, on the other hand, still wanted people to embrace their freedom -- X-rated though it may wind up being.
Fans Say Hugh Hefner Did Good For Humanity
Fans even say that Hugh Hefner did more good for humanity when it came to "stereotypical class roles and assumptions." They suggest that he helped to break down barriers in terms of what people could do in life based on their family history, race, or social class. (Someone even wrote a book on the subject)
But the final way that Hugh helped shape modern society -- and improve it? Fans say he was "pro-feminist" and always argued in favor of the right to make one's own reproductive decisions.
All in all, he doesn't sound that terrible.