Katie Lohmann Spills on the Seven Girlfriends Era!

Girls Next Level

Katie Lohmann joins the podcast to recount her experiences as a Playboy girlfriend during the early 2000s. She details the professional fall

Key takeaways

• Katie LohMMann was banned from working for Playboy for seven years after refusing to disclose bedroom secrets on Howard Stern's program.
• Hugh Hefner confronted Katie personally, accusing her of making him look like a fool by prioritizing her privacy over publicity.

Main topics

• Playboy Mansion history
• Howard Stern interview fallout

Notable quotes

You made me look like a fool.

Conclusion

A candid look into the high-stakes social and professional world of th

Transcript preview

Speaker 5 (0:00) Amazon Great Indian Festival is here. The festival of all the greats is here. The Speaker 1 (0:10) phone has been upgraded from exchange. The beautiful selfie is here. The Speaker 5 (0:15) great deals on fashion are here. The candle hopping is going on for sure. The Speaker 1 (0:20) home is decorated. India celebrates. Mumbai, Speaker 3 (0:22) Lucknow, Speaker 1 (0:22) Kolkata, Kochi. The Speaker 5 (0:24) festival Speaker 1 (0:24) of all the Speaker 5 (0:24) greats is here. The Amazon Great Indian Festival is here. From 8th October. Speaker 2 (0:31) I'm Holly. And I'm Bridget. And this is Girls Next Level. Speaker 3 (0:39) Welcome back to Girls Next Level podcast. We are so excited because we have a special guest today. I know that among the listeners and other people, there's been such a fascination with the era of the mansion where it was the original seven girlfriends. And just to give you guys a little timeline and how it relates to Bridget's and my era, I moved in in late 2001. Bridget started joining the group in 2002. So our guest we have today was a girlfriend in 2000. So this was like I was coming to the parties, but I was not part of the inner circle. I did not live there. Outsider looking in. So I'm so excited to hear the details from that era because I don't even know. And I know you guys want to know too. So please welcome Miss April 2001, Katie Lohman. Hi, guys. Hello. You Speaker 2 (1:27) know this Speaker 3 (1:27) is the first time we've met, right? It Speaker 2 (1:29) is, but I have a story for you where I saw you somewhere, but I didn't say anything to you. Speaker 4 (1:35) Because we've just never... You know, and I've seen Holly plenty of times at, you know, different parties and stuff. Well, actually, not really like parties. More like Easter where it's a little slower and a little more Speaker 3 (1:47) calm. Or a couple nightclub nights, too. Yeah, yeah. I Speaker 4 (1:50) remember Speaker 3 (1:50) seeing you because you were always reporting on the red carpet. Speaker 4 (1:52) Yes, yes. I remember I think the first time that we met was when I had that little, the E-channel thing. And I went up and you were, like, standing right there. And I know the rest of the girlfriends were like. in the back somewhere just hanging out with Hef or something but it was nice because you were like right there and I was like Holly let's get an interview you know you're probably Speaker 3 (2:09) like okay I was Speaker 4 (2:11) always down all right you know um so where did where did we Speaker 2 (2:15) see because I've Speaker 4 (2:15) never Speaker 2 (2:16) seen you at Speaker 4 (2:16) the Speaker 2 (2:16) mansion I've never nothing Okay, so it was before I was a girlfriend, but I was kind of going out to the mansion a little bit. Yeah. And I still had my apartment and everything, and I went to this place to get 8x10s made, and you were in front of me, and you were there getting your playmate headshots made. Was this at Ray the Speaker 3 (2:34) Retoucher? It wasn't at Ray the Retoucher. So Speaker 2 (2:37) it was at a place on, let's see, where would that have been? It's like on, it's in that little shopping mall in Hollywood. Speaker 4 (2:44) I Speaker 2 (2:44) had to pick them up? You were talking to them about the photos. You were like, headshots and stuff. And one of them was the Playboy one because I was like, oh, it's her Playboy Speaker 3 (2:52) headshot. And I was like, hand-girling behind Speaker 2 (2:54) you. And you were like, so cute wearing this like, pink. I don't think it was a juicy tracksuit, but it was like a pink tracksuit type thing. Speaker 4 (3:02) And Speaker 2 (3:02) I was like, oh, it's so cute. Like, oh, she was a girlfriend. And you still had like the bleach blonde platinum hair. And so you weren't a girlfriend anymore, but... I still knew who you were. And then it was confirmed by your headshots that you were talking to them about in front of you. And it was at this place that's at that strip mall on Sunset. You know where the McDonald's used to be? It's all torn out now, but the McDonald's, it was that weird one. The Speaker 3 (3:28) McDonald's Speaker 2 (3:28) with the Speaker 3 (3:28) drive-thru of Doom. The drive-thru tunnel? Yeah. Yes, it was that Speaker 2 (3:32) one. On Sunset? Yeah, Speaker 3 (3:34) it's this lot. It's kind of like if you're into Hollywood history, like an historic lot. Because it used to be the Garden of Allah Hotel where all the movie stars would stay back in the day. Oh, yeah. But it was like a strip mall. It was on, was it? Not La Brea. Not La Brea. Speaker 2 (3:47) It's like Crescent Heights. Yeah, Crescent Heights and Sunset. Crescent Heights sounds familiar. Crescent Heights and Sunset. It's on the corner right there. And the McDonald's is on the very corner. But like behind it is like this kind of. strip mall and there was a there was a headshot place there like to get copies made and things like that Speaker 4 (4:03) now Speaker 2 (4:04) you do remember Speaker 4 (4:04) that yet as as important as the headshot was the full body was more important Speaker 3 (4:09) yeah you guys had to have the bikini we had to do the full Speaker 4 (4:13) body Speaker 3 (4:13) yeah and that to Speaker 4 (4:15) me was the more important one i thought the headshot was was great i was like okay this is great but i think where i really nailed it was the full body And remember, I was still, I'm in that generation of black and white. So you had to nail that picture. Like, you had to nail it because it's black and white. Right. And then they switched to color and that's fine. And I never got a colored headshot or anything like that. Because once you, you know, do your body shot and your headshot and that's, they don't, they don't come, have you come back and go, oh, let's do color now. Like, we don't do that. Speaker 3 (4:48) Yeah. It's so different how prevalent black and white headshots were like long after just black and white anything went out. It was still like a thing up to like the early 2000s. We started doing. When did they start doing color playmate headshots? Maybe in 2000s. Yeah. Or something. By the time I worked at the studio, everything was color. Speaker 4 (5:08) That would have been, wouldn't that have been a little later? Because, like, I remember them going into color more like 04, 05. Yeah, probably right around there. Because all my, the rest of my 2001 girls were all black and white. You know, but I really liked that body shot because it was a strong shot. I'm very, like, I'm kind of like this, and I'm kind of like. Like a superhero or something. I'm trying to look like a superhero. Which makes no sense because, like, why are you Speaker 3 (5:37) trying Speaker 4 (5:37) to look like Supergirl for a Playboy photo? Speaker 3 (5:43) No, but it's, like... How else are you going to pose, though? Speaker 4 (5:45) I mean, it made sense to me Speaker 3 (5:46) because Speaker 4 (5:47) I wanted, like, a strong... Yes. I did not want, like... To me, a bikini photo was not, like... Speaker 3 (5:53) Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, I'm standing Speaker 4 (5:54) there and I'm, like, kind of have, like, one leg in, one leg kind of out. And I've got like my arm here and like my other arm here and I'm not smiling. I Speaker 3 (6:04) think that makes sense though because it reminds me of like a fitness competition. You know what I mean? Yeah. Speaker 4 (6:08) Or to me in my head, I was just thinking I was like Supergirl. Yeah. So I was going to just, I mean, it's a really strong pose. You Speaker 2 (6:15) are Speaker 4 (6:15) Supergirl. Speaker 2 (6:15) That's good. So let's go back Speaker 4 (6:18) in time a little. I feel like I'm sending a message, though. Yeah. You Speaker 2 (6:21) know? Speaker 4 (6:21) Strong woman. I just, I like the idea. I didn't want, like, a dainty, like, I'm not a little mermaid, like, going, eh, maybe I'll be cute. I wanted, like, something, like, I'm going to have the best photo that I can. Speaker 3 (6:34) for Speaker 4 (6:34) this body shot because this is going to be important to me. This could take me into the future. You're going to have to send Speaker 3 (6:40) me Speaker 4 (6:40) a copy of this photo if Speaker 3 (6:41) you can find it so I can plug it in here so people can Speaker 4 (6:43) see. Speaker 3 (6:43) It's Speaker 4 (6:43) okay. People are going to want Speaker 2 (6:45) to see Speaker 3 (6:46) what you're referring to so it would be Speaker 2 (6:47) great to post it on there. And I don't Speaker 4 (6:49) have that many of them left because The ones I do have, I was selling them at GlamourCon. Not thinking about, well, someday Playboy. Oh, Speaker 3 (6:58) well, Speaker 4 (6:58) let's just talk about Speaker 3 (6:59) GlamourCon. I didn't even put a question about Speaker 4 (7:01) GlamourCon Speaker 3 (7:02) in here. Because usually Speaker 4 (7:03) when you're doing GlamourCon at that time, all you're really thinking about is what you can sell. But then you end up selling all the stuff that you're never going to be able to buy again. No, that was Speaker 3 (7:13) me with our first Girls Next Door calendar. And Bridget gave me one because she had a stockpile. But I would buy them wholesale and then sell them on my website. And I forgot to take a stash before they came out. sold out. That's what Speaker 4 (7:23) I'm saying. So Bridget gave me one and Speaker 3 (7:25) then this lady in Vegas that my assistant knew brought me one that she had that was in plastic. She's like, I heard you didn't have one anymore so now I have two. Speaker 4 (7:32) Don't ever sell them Speaker 2 (7:33) because you'll never be able to get them. And magazines Speaker 4 (7:35) too, think about it. As far as like our magazines, you know, my Playmate pictorial and your guys' covers. They're never going to make those again. Yeah. Speaker 3 (7:44) That's it. Speaker 4 (7:44) You know what I mean? Speaker 3 (7:45) You have what Speaker 4 (7:45) you Speaker 3 (7:45) have. Treasured artifacts. They are Speaker 4 (7:47) treasured artifacts. I love that. Speaker 3 (7:49) The good news about Playboy, though, is people treasured their issues. So if you do want to find one on eBay, it's better than trying to find any other magazine because people treasured their Playboys. Oh, Speaker 2 (7:59) they'll be in Speaker 4 (8:00) plastic. Yeah. In perfect condition. They always want it signed or something like that. But no, it was... Let me tell you a GlamourCon story since we're there. Okay, since we're talking about it. Okay, so if I don't say it from the beginning, it's really not going to make a lot of sense. But I was actually banned from working for Playboy. Oh. Speaker 3 (8:20) I got banned. Why? Speaker 4 (8:22) Because I went on Howard Stern. Oh. And Speaker 3 (8:27) when Speaker 4 (8:27) he asked me, Howard's like, so do you guys sleep with Hef? He said it just very, not pushy, but just like that. Speaker 3 (8:34) Yeah. And Speaker 4 (8:35) I go. I go, no. And then he goes, well, what? Like, do you just fool around with him? Or like, what do you do? And I go, I don't know. Then he goes, well, do the other girls sleep with him? I go, I don't know. Almost just, I was so trying to not- Kiss and tell. Have that conversation. If I'm going to have that conversation, I'm not going to have it with Howard Stern. I'm going to have it in an environment where I feel like it's the right time. Yeah. I wasn't going to get into all that with him. Well, he doesn't let anybody leave without getting into all of that with him. But I got lucky because after that, he just avoided it. And he didn't ask me anything else. Speaker 3 (9:10) I Speaker 4 (9:11) don't know. I just must have just made it seem like, I don't know. No, we don't do that. No. And then he just was like, oh, okay. Were you on there as a playmate or were you on there as his girlfriend or both? Well, I was on there as his girlfriend, but nobody really understood what that meant. Like, you're a girlfriend, but if no one's explaining what that means, then they just... bought what I said and was just like, no, we don't do anything. No, I don't know if they do it. It was just so quick. Speaker 3 (9:38) But Speaker 4 (9:38) it made such an impact because when I, and I was kind of on my way of moving out there. I had told Hef I was going to move out. But I wanted to still go up there and see him after I got back from the show. And then he's waiting for me at the front door. Oh, my God. I can, like, feel the panic. He's Speaker 3 (9:58) waiting Speaker 4 (9:58) for me. Oh, no. He's not inside. He's outside. And so they know when you're there because you call the gate. So he knew I was there, and he was, like, waiting at the door. And he comes out the door outside, and he goes. why did you lie about this relationship? Speaker 3 (10:16) Oh Speaker 2 (10:16) my God. Speaker 3 (10:17) And Speaker 4 (10:17) I said, well, I Speaker 3 (10:18) can feel this. I said, Speaker 4 (10:20) well, I just, you know, didn't really think it was appropriate to talk about that stuff. Yeah. Good for you. And he was just like, you made me look like a fool. Speaker 5 (10:28) He Speaker 4 (10:29) said those exact words to me. Those exact words. And I was like, what do you mean by that? And he goes, you made it look like it was all for publicity. And I was like, and this is what I said. I don't know if I said it out loud or I said it in my head, but I just remember thinking like, well, who cares if everybody thinks it's for publicity? Who cares if they do or they don't? Let them think what they want. You know what I mean? We don't have to go out there and advertise for you exactly what this is. And I remember being very offended by the fact that he's talking shit to me about I don't want to talk about that. And I'm not going to. And I... Never did. You know, because I just thought, well, he doesn't like it because I won't talk about, you know, so he's like, well, you humiliated me. And I go, well, you have a lot of other girlfriends, so I wouldn't really worry about it. Yeah, good. You know, you have other girls that, you know, I'm like on my way out right now. You've got six other girls right now. Right. So is it really that big of a deal that I did not tell the world that the girlfriends sleep with you? Speaker 3 (11:35) Yeah, especially since, like you said, you are on your way out. I was on my way out. So Speaker 4 (11:39) it's even more, Speaker 3 (11:39) like, inappropriate to, like, air stuff out. You know what I mean? It just Speaker 4 (11:42) wasn't the time to do that. I was still sort of holding on to any kind of, like, personal integrity that I had. And I didn't want to, like, go into my new life just... feeling like, oh, I was just a girlfriend and maybe people are going to judge me for that. I don't know. And my career was really, really important to me when I got out of Playboy because it was make or break. You know what I mean? And I'm sorry, but we all know that doors close and doors open as far as with Playboy. But I thought that if I added the girlfriend thing in there, that it would add a little more negativity to it. You know, because I really wanted to get into fitness and I really wanted to do acting and I want to do these things. So I just felt like I felt like I didn't feel like I did anything wrong. Speaker 3 (12:25) Yeah. Speaker 4 (12:26) I just felt like what's the big deal? You know what I mean? Speaker 3 (12:29) I didn't tell any secrets, bedroom secrets. What's Speaker 4 (12:32) the big deal? Speaker 3 (12:33) Have you tried everything to lose weight and still feel stuck? I've been up and down the weight cycle all my adult life. And I know sometimes losing that last five pounds can feel super hard. And you want to look good in the summer through all year. You know, you shouldn't be waiting for the right time to tackle your weight loss goals. This is it. HERS now offers access to an affordable range of FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, including the Wegovi pill and the Wegovi pen. With Wegovi at HERS, lose up to 20 % of your body weight when combined with diet and exercise. It helps you regulate your appetite, eat less, and keep weight off. 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Please support our show and tell us. them we sent you and Speaker 4 (17:01) then he's like you're not working for playboy anymore he goes i am going to call and i'm going to tell them that you are banned from working and you cannot come to the parties that's extreme and i was like okay and i was very sad because when you do leave the mansion there is sort of this like disconnect that happens and you don't have these girls with you and you're not going shopping and you're not going to parties and you're not you know because when you are a girlfriend Like, the parties are a lot easier because you can drink what you want, as much as you want, and then you just go right upstairs. There's no driving. There's no going to fucking UCLA and parking your car. There's none of that. So there is a sense of relaxation there. Speaker 2 (17:42) And you're with Speaker 4 (17:43) security because you're in half area. So nobody's, like, inappropriate Speaker 2 (17:46) with you. And they Speaker 4 (17:48) know, like, don't let anyone. mess with the girlfriends like we're off limits right okay and that was what was really great at least with hef's friends is they excuse me they knew that we were off limits they'd never hit on me Speaker 3 (18:00) you Speaker 4 (18:01) know what i mean or made a weird right anything you know doesn't mean that like the other people that come out there aren't going to be weird but right his friends were very respectful and i think that's why they remained his friends is because they're not like being creepy yeah Speaker 3 (18:14) exactly Speaker 4 (18:15) so But so I was banned for seven years. Seven years. Holy shit. That's so Speaker 3 (18:21) extreme to me that he would ban you from working for Playboy with that. And I Speaker 4 (18:25) couldn't go to the parties. That's so extreme. Speaker 3 (18:28) But Speaker 4 (18:29) what ended up happening was I said, fine, if that's how you feel about it, then that's the way it is. And I just stood up and said, I don't really give a fuck if you're going to ban me or not. I'm going to do as much work outside of Playboy as I possibly can and prove you wrong. Speaker 3 (18:45) Good. Prove me wrong. Good for you.