Hugh Hefner was again the victim of a death rumor that circulated in the early morning of Saturday. The hoax immediately resulted in tweets mourning the supposed death of the famous Playboy founder. When his name started to trend, his former girlfriend, Kendra Wilkinson, was quick to shun the rumors saying “He’s OK” and that she was momentarily scared after reading the tweets.
Reports claiming Hugh is dead similarly spread last September. The issue went big that several press people even dropped by the Playboy mansion where the employees denied the reports. The Playboy mogul also called the authorities to confirm he’s alive.
That same month, his media team also maintained that there’s nothing to worry about Hugh’s health and that he is still doing his daily activities specifically his duties for the renowned magazine.
“It is no secret that over the past few years he has suffered with back pain that has made it a bit more challenging for him to get around, but at 90 years of age he is enjoying his life and still very involved in the day-to-day activities of editing the magazine.”
Despite the press release, Radar Online still reported a few weeks later that Hugh’s current lifestyle is immensely different from his previous years. The late-night parties have been allegedly replaced with “early bird dinners, quiet nights playing chess, and a squad of nurses tagging after Hef in the vast home.”
The site’s insider described Hugh’s current state as “withered and shrunken to a skeletal 90 pounds” who is now “facing his tragic final days.” People close to him are allegedly frightened for him.
“Hef’s a shell of his former self. His body has given out and he can’t even walk anymore. He has to be lifted in and out of a wheelchair. Most of his buddies are convinced he won’t live much longer.”
Other websites echoed the reports. It appears that Hugh is tired of all the death rumors, and in October, he managed to make fun of them on Twitter.
“I wish the tabloids had informed me a little earlier in the week that I’m sick. I might have cancelled my weekend plans,” he wrote. When latest news of his “death” surfaced, he also shared on Twitter that he’s watching a film with Crystal.
The former Playboy boss remains tight-lipped about his health. Some speculate that his health started to deteriorate earlier this year when his brother and best friend, Keith, passed away just a day before Hugh celebrated his birthday.
Hugh and Crystal recently hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for their family members and friends. Hugh’s son, Cooper, and his fiancée Scarlett Byrne, attended the festivity. Cooper also tweeted a photo of his father. “Hope everyone is having a lovely evening with family and friends,” his caption read.
Hugh’s infamous mansion was already bought by his next-door neighbor, Daren Metropoulos. The billionaire Twinkies owner intends to connect his property, which he also bought from Hugh in 2009, with the Playboy mansion. However, he will not start his reconstruction plans yet because he permitted Hugh to stay in the mansion until his final days.
The property was listed this year at $200 million although its final price wasn’t revealed. Brokers claim that it would break a record for the most expensive residential sale in Los Angeles.
The Playboy mansion was built in 1927 by architect Arthur Rolland Kelly. The 29-room mansion features 12 bedrooms, a home theater, a wine cellar, a tennis court, a gym and swimming pool, a grotto, and even a pet cemetery. The mansion comes with its own zoo license too. Although the mansion needs to be upgraded, Daren considers it a “true privilege” to become the famous property’s steward.
[Featured Image Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Playboy]
