Hugh Hefner Wasn’t Sure About Lindsay Lohan Pictorial At First

Hugh Hefner tells PEOPLE Magazine that he wasn’t initially sold on putting Lindsay Lohan on the cover of Playboy Magazine.

“The concept came from my editors… I had mixed emotions to begin with… I could not have anticipated, quite frankly, that it would turn out to be such a sensational newsworthy event, or that the pictorial would turn out so well.”

Hefner still hasn’t met Lohan in person, but acknowledges, at least based on what he has read and heard of Lohan that the 25 year old is “carrying around some serious luggage.”

“Historically, Playboy pictorials are connected to celebrities at various times in their career … Sometimes it’s the beginning of their career and sometimes it comes at a particular moment – as with Lindsay – that is intended as a turnaround.”

Hefner told PEOPLE that Lohan could compare her decision to pose to Drew Barrymore’s past appearance on the cover of the magazine, which came at time when she was not doing well professionally. Barrymore has gone on to great success as both and actress and a producer.

Hefner also acknowledged that some of Lohan’s reps would have preferred, and voiced so, that she did not pose fully naked. But for Hefner, it was a requirement.

“Some of the people around her said, ‘No, no, no, I don’t want her nude … And I said, ‘No, this is how it’s going to be. This is how it is.”

If Hefner had any doubts before, they’re certainly appeased now. Even after (or perhaps due to) the leak of the photos, the magazine has been a huge publicity blitz, and the issue is reportedly flying off newstands.

For more celeb news, follow @BrianBalthazar on twitter!