(Image Source: Playboy)

BY LAUREN ZIMA

Lindsay Lohan’s Marilyn Monroe-inspired Playboy cover leaked online Thursday. Then, the full set of pictures and interview leaked Friday. Now, Playboy magnate Hugh Hefner has announced the issue will go on sale early. So -- does this mean trouble for the already financially struggling mag? Hefner seems, well, excited about the … early release. He announced the news with a Tweet:

“The actual Lindsey Lohan issue will be available on newsstands at the end of next week. Hot. Hot. Hot.”

Entertainment Weekly wonders if Hef’s Tweets are dead-on … or dellusional.

“So does Hef think Lohan is hot enough to fuel Playboy sales despite the leak? Or did he just burn his tongue on some split pea soup mid-tweet? It’s hard to imagine — now that the images have been seen by anyone with a computer — that fans and detractors alike will race to grab a copy of Lohan’s Playboy. But it’s plausible that the issue would outsell others from this year ... ”

Playboy says it did not know about or approve of the leak. The hacker responsible is reportedly someone operating out of Russia. Lindsay’s issue wasn’t supposed to come out until late December, and KYW points out that Playboy invested plenty in Lindsay. In her pictures, that is.

“Playboy invested a ton of money into the Lohan edition. They actually printed thousands of extra copies in anticipation of unprecedented demand.”

Lohan was reportedly paid almost $1 million for the spread, and Fox News spoke with a PR expert who says Playboy likely won’t earn its money back.

“There’s no doubt that the leak will impact sales … Unless there are some really killer articles in this issue, why would the public buy the magazine, when they can find the same high-quality pictures online?"

And the Hef does seem to be coming off as a little desperate. He also Tweeted:

““The Lindsey Lohan issue will make the perfect Christmas issue for men in your life--father, son, husband, boyfriend, whoever.”

To which Blackbook responds:

“ … everyone has seen and commented and pretty much been like, eh, whatever … the rag is trying to do damage control. … It will be the perfect gift for someone without Internet access or that one lone person who truly really does read Playboy for the articles.”


Lohan’s interview was also part of the leak. In it, she says that, looking back on tough times in her life, she wishes she’d taken other people’s advice. Oh, Lindsay.