Hugh Hefner on Tiger Woods and Jesse James rehabbing after being caught cheating: 'It's a cop out'

Who better than the founder of Playboy to ask about the dalliances of today's entertainers who run to rehab once they're found cheating?

Hugh Hefner turned 84 on Friday, and moments after playing around with the birthday gift just given to him by his girlfriend (Hef got an iPad), he sat down and talked about the new trend of 3-D movies ("It's a gimmick and how long it will last we'll see."), this year's box-office blockbuster "Alice in Wonderland" ("Slight on story, very strong visually. Tim Burton is a genius."), and why he has never found himself embroiled in scandal despite his less-than-mundane life.

But when it came to asking the man who knows a thing or two about human sexual behavior, particularly in regard to famous men, Hefner said although he believes some people have become addicted to sex and need treatment, it doesn't have much to do with sex when the likes of Tiger Woods and Jesse James enter rehab. 

"I think it is a cop out," Hefner said from inside the Playboy mansion. "In the cases we are talking about here, they're making choices and they think they can get away with it. And I think the real immorality about it is the cheating, not the sex."

Not long after the interview, Hef was joined by his friends for an annual viewing of his favorite film, "Casablanca," after eating caviar and drinking champagne by candlelight.

"Very romantic," he explained.

-- Tony Pierce

Video credit: Tim French / Los Angeles Times

Related dispatches: 

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's first true love was movies

Hugh Hefner's secret identity as a comic book artist

You know what else is romantic? The way you follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter (we're @LATcelebs) and how you say nice things about us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/ministryofgossip.

Comments

[Peter John Andros]

Actually, back in the day, I was hauled off to a Democratic fund raiser at the Mansion in Holmby Hills by an employee of the then California governor and spent the day cornered by a soused, gabbing Corinne Calvert (lots of blah, blah, blah from the old French actress) and screwing in the actor Jimmy Caan's bedroom, adjacent to the pinball machines. Jimmy'd forgot to lock his door and we left a "thank you" note. The Mansion is definitely a special residence/office building and there must be thousands of stories, incidents, deals, that have originated on that property. Hefner himself is a bit of a fossil these days, but he tries to be relevant even as he fights boredom and impatience with the familiar, especially interviewers and the inquisitive. He knows the score and he knows the race to the grave is a no-hitter.

[Robert K Walcott]

Hugh's right. They're not really fooling anyone.

[rwh101]

Happy Birthday Mr. Hefner with many happy returns.. I've often wondered
if your sexual bunnies have been a benefit to women's liberation? did it help
or hinder? also I associate you with sex and nothing more, however I
forget your have three children and two former wives.
Congratulations on looking so refreshed it does you wonders.

[john]

Hef - live the dream bro....for all of us.
I am 44 and cant imagine a 24 year old.
Hell, I have shoes that are older than her....keep on keepin' on.