The April Fool Archive

Eastern European April Fool's Day Hoaxes

Playboy’s Wife-Beating Advice (2000)

The Romanian edition of Playboy published an article titled "How to beat your wife without leaving a trace." Written from the point of view of a policeman, it offered a step-by-step guide to concealable abuse, suggesting that abuse could lead to a better sex life.

Deputy editor Mihai Galatanu later insisted the article had been an April Fool's joke, and that the abuse methods described "cannot work." Nevertheless, the article generated widespread condemnation. Women marched through central Bucharest in protest.

Playboy Enterprises chairman Christie Hefner soon issued an apology and reprimanded the Romanian chief editor. More…