LOS ANGELES—Playboy is returning to its roots, announcing Monday it is bringing nude photos back to its magazine after a one-year detour.
Cooper Hefner, the son of iconic founder Hugh Hefner, announced the move on Twitter Monday saying, "I'll be the first to admit that the way in which the magazine portrayed nudity was dated, but removing it entirely was a mistake."
"Nudity was never a problem because nudity isn't a problem," the younger Hefner continued. "Today we're taking our identity back and reclaiming who we are."
Playboy published its first non-nude issue in March 2016 featuring Sarah McDaniel on the cover, sparking widespread criticism that it had abandoned its core appeal. But with its next issue, March/April 2017, order will be restored. That issue features March Playmate and cover girl Elizabeth Elam and is available on Playboy.com and on newstands Feb. 28. Coincidentally, McDaniel posted a commentary earlier today on Filthy.media about the unusual distinction she has of being the first girl to grace the cover of the non-nude Playboy. The column is titled "Did I Kill Playboy?"
The March/April publication also features April Playmate Nina Daniele; a Playboy Interview with Scarlett Johansson; a profile of CNN political commentator Van Jones; and an article on hip-hop duo Run the Jewels, among other sections.
The magazine also indicated it would be bringing back the "Party Jokes" section and The Playboy Philosophy, a political and cultural column that will be written by Cooper Hefner. His father first wrote the column nearly 40 years ago.
Playboy also is removing the familiar “Entertainment for Men” tagline from the cover.
“Playboy will always be a lifestyle brand focused on men’s interests," Hefner said in a statement, "but as gender roles continue to evolve in society, so will we.”
