Former child star Melissa Joan Hart has opened up about her decision to decline a substantial offer from Playboy magazine, citing the distressing impact a previous provocative photoshoot had on her family.
The Maxim Photoshoot and Its Consequences
In 1999, a then 23-year-old Hart posed for a cover shoot for Maxim magazine. The spread, which featured her topless and in her underwear, was far more consequential than she had anticipated. The cover headline, which read 'Sabrina, Your Favorite Witch Without a Stich!', directly referenced her role on the popular television series Sabrina, The Teenage Witch.
This reference proved to be a serious problem. Hart revealed that the usage of the character's name violated a specific clause in her contract with Archie Comics, which stipulated that she was never to portray the teenage witch naked. The breach was so severe that she nearly lost her job on the show. Her lawyer confronted her at a party, informing her she was being sued and was about to be fired.
Hart managed to defuse the situation by writing a letter of apology, which allowed her to keep the iconic role. She clarified that the photoshoot was intended to promote her film Drive Me Crazy and that she had no control over the cover text used by the magazine.
Family Torment Leads to a Difficult Choice
The professional repercussions were not the only fallout. Hart disclosed on the podcast Sibling Revelry, hosted by Kate and Oliver Hudson, that her family endured significant personal torment because of the images.
Her brother, who was in middle school or high school at the time, and her father were 'tortured' by colleagues and acquaintances who would taunt them with the magazine. This experience left a deep impression on Hart.
When Playboy later approached her with a lucrative offer, this family trauma was at the forefront of her mind. 'They offered me a lot of money,' she admitted, but her decision was clear. 'I can't do it because I don't want my brother to be hurt... He's already getting tortured by me in underwear.' Her primary concern was shielding her family from further embarrassment and pain.
A Decision Validated by Motherhood
Now a 49-year-old mother of three boys, Hart reflects on that choice with certainty and relief. While she stated she was personally comfortable with her body and not ashamed, she is profoundly glad she declined the offer.
'I'm really glad I didn't, because now I have three boys and I don't need those images out there for them,' she explained. Her foresight in considering how such images would affect her future children, which she initially viewed through the lens of her sibling's suffering, ultimately guided her to a decision that protects her own family today.
Despite the initial drama, Hart noted that the controversy surrounding the Maxim cover inadvertently provided a significant publicity boost for her movie Drive Me Crazy, which went on to be a success.
