After Suspending Print Edition, Playboy Pares Its Editorial Staff

WESTWOOD, Calif.—Playboy Enterprises announced plans today to lay off a large number of editorial staff members.The decision to slim its staff comes just two months after CEO Ben Kohn decided to suspend Playboy’s U.S. print edition. WWD reports that at least 25 staffers were pared.Kohn at the time said the disruptions from COVID-19 were too much to overcome for the publication, which first appeared at the end of 1953.Playboy is now a digital-only operation and relies heavily on freelancers to provide editorial content.Kohn said today: “Those leaving Playboy today have contributed in innumerable ways and will be greatly missed. We thank them for their dedicated service and are committed to supporting them as they embark on their job searches.”“We are confident in Playboy’s brand, business and our team, as we continue to push boundaries and create a culture where all people can pursue pleasure,” he said.Kohn said that affected employees are getting at least two months of severance, with additional amounts based on length of employment. He said Playboy continues to cover the cost of individual health benefits.Playboy moved to a quarterly print schedule last year after reducing nudity and dumping its “Playmate of the Year,” which was instituted by founder Hugh Hefner in the 1960s.