It was owned by Drake’s until 1993 when Drake merged into Crescent Publishing Group Inc. In 1986, the magazine filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Throughout the years, Playgirl’s ownership changed hands multiple times. Playgirl also once featured a “Real Men” section to feature amateur models. Many actors who appeared nude in movies in the ‘80s and ‘90s often found themselves in the magazine in a section called celebrity nudes. Johnston’s cover also marked Playgirl’s return to print issues after a year of creating content that lived online only. Given Palin’s still high profile at the time, the photo shoot made headlines across America and particularly stirred up Palin’s more loyal followers and conservative base for being provocative.

At the time, Johnston had a level of fame as the boyfriend of Bristol Palin, the daughter of 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. One of the most high-profile nude photo spreads Playgirl did in the late 2000s was Johnston’s. The actor wound up suing Playgirl, alleging a trespassing paparazzi illegally snapped the photos while he was on vacation with then-girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow. Although he did not formally pose for Playgirl, in 1997, the magazine featured Pitt on a cover. Atkins, who was already famous for being nude in the 1980 film “Blue Lagoon,” was featured in 1982’s Best of Playgirl magazine.ġ980s heartthrob Lamas would go on to pose for the magazine in 1996, appearing shirtless on the magazine’s cover. Reynolds would be the inspiration for decades of men to come at Playgirl.

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