In a candid conversation on the “Daddy Issues“ podcast hosted by Joe Buck and Oliver Hudson, Los Angeles Lakers owner, Jeanie Buss, recalled the decision she made 28 years ago to pose for “Playboy” magazine. At that time, Buss was fulfilling a personal goal and highlighted that her choice to appear in the magazine was entirely unrelated to her business career.
During the conversation, Buss talked about her experiences at the age of 32 when she decided to go ahead with the Playboy photoshoot. She explained that the choice was not a youthful mistake but a carefully considered personal decision. “It was my own personal goal, not anything to do with business or anything. Just something I wanted to do,” Buss stated.
“My dad is again one of the most brilliant people,” Buss said. “He gave a quote that was so perfect, where he said, ‘It will be the first issue of Playboy magazine I’ve never read.’ Meaning, he’s endorsing the magazine, but I’m his daughter, right. He can walk that fine line of not being judgmental or putting me down.”
She also brought up the support she received from her father, the late Jerry Buss. Jerry, who had bought the Lakers in 1979, was renowned for his intelligence and his nurturing approach to guiding Jeanie into becoming a significant figure in the sports industry.
Jeanie Buss addresses misconceptions and criticisms decades later
Even though it has been over three decades, in the same interview, Buss revealed that she still finds herself defending her decision to a society that is quick to pass judgments. She expressed frustration over the continuous need to justify her actions from years ago.
#ICYMI: Lakers Owner Jeanie Buss Throwback Playboy Shoot https://t.co/YPf2lQGcHM … pic.twitter.com/s5exxmbprG
— Terez Owens (@TerezOwens) February 24, 2017
Furthermore, Buss shed light on another controversial photo associated with her, which has been her X avatar where she seems to be naked, holding two basketballs. This photograph was not from her time with Playboy but was shot by a Sports Illustrated photographer in 1998.
Initially skeptical about the concept pitched by the photographer, Buss later found the idea artistically compelling and agreed to the shoot which she described as similar to a “mermaid underwater with a blue backdrop.”
“It was kind of like I was like a mermaid underwater with a blue backdrop,” Buss said. “They used to show mermaids holding pearls, like this, right, and so instead of the pearls, I got basketballs. And I’m not naked but I might look like I’m naked. I get people [who say], ‘How dare you put a naked picture of you on Twitter. It was in Playboy.’ And it’s not. It was from Sports Illustrated.”
Through the conversation, Buss presents herself who is unapologetic about her past choices, standing firm against societal judgments and misconceptions.
Discussion about this post