Playboy, Vanity Fair Feuding Over ‘Lost’ Marilyn Monroe Pix

LOS ANGELES — Playboy is miffed over the “lost” Marilyn Monroe photos being hyped on the June edition of Vanity Fair magazine.

Vanity Fair’s cover trumpets, “Marilyn: “Inside The Lost Nudes.” But Playboy says those photos have already appeared in its magazine — not once but twice.

Website Gawker reported that Vanity Fair’s website described the photos in question as outtakes from her last photo shoot that landed on photographer Lawrence Schiller’s desk with a note from Monroe that read, “Send this to Playboy, they might like it."

Playboy shot back on its website, “And, indeed, we did like it. So much that we ran them 48 years ago, in our January 1964 issue, or again in January 2005. Sorry, Vanity Fair. Sometimes when something is too good to be true, it really is too good to be true.”

Although Schiller, whose memoir accompanies the Vanity Fair photos, admitted that they did originally appear in Playboy in 1964, two years after Monroe's death (due to Hugh Hefner not wanting to exploit the tragedy), the revelation didn’t show up until the last paragraph of the article.

Playboy then said in an email that the fact checker probably buried the real deal in the back of the magazine so Vanity Fair could make it appear as though they had the lost and exclusive pictures.

A Vanity Fair spokesperson however told Gawker by email that 12 of their images (mostly black-and-white proofs) had indeed never been published before — some of which were outtakes similar to the original Playboy photos.

So, both magazines are right— sort of — and the legend of Marilyn Monroe lives on.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Orion Debuts 'RC Flashing Butt Plug' From 'Anos' Line

Orion Wholesale has introduced the RC Flashing Butt Plug from its Anos line.

Two Texas Bills Restricting Sex Toy Sales Fail to Pass

Two bills aimed at restricting sales of sex toys have failed to pass the Texas state legislature during its 2025 session.

NYC Adult Stores Petition for Rehearing in Zoning Law Case

A group of adult businesses on Tuesday petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to rehear a case involving a zoning law that could severely limit adult stores’ operations in New York City.

Male Power Debuts 'Soo Cumfy' Collection

Male Power has introduced its new Soo Cumfy collection of men's underwear.

Magic Silk Expands 'Exposed' Line With 'Caribbean Crush' Collection

Magic Silk has expanded its Exposed line of lingerie with the Caribbean Crush collection.

Ivy Minxxx Stars in Motorbunny's Latest 'Do It on a Bunny' Episode

Creator Ivy Minxxx stars with Tyler Ford in the new episode of Motorbunny's “Do It on a Bunny” series.

Eldorado Names Antonia Pappas Purchasing Director

Eldorado Trading has appointed Antonia Pappas as its new purchasing director.

Magic Silk Debuts 'Glimmer' Collection

Magic Silk has introduced its new Glimmer line of apparel.

Blush Expands 'Naturally Yours' Collection

Blush has introduced three new dildos from its Naturally Yours line.

Le Wand Dive Gets Wired.com Review

Le Wand Dive has been spotlighted by WIRED with a review by tech and lifestyle journalist Amanda Chatel.

Show More