Holly Madison Says Ex Criss Angel Was ''Cripplingly Insecure'' & Had an ''Explosive Temper''

"Hef was a master of manipulation and knew how to cripple a girl's self-esteem. Criss, on the other hand, just scared me," she wrote

By Bruna Nessif Jul 07, 2015 9:32 PMTags
Criss Angel, Holly MadisonEthan Miller/Getty Images

Hugh Hefner isn't the only former love interest that got slammed by Holly Madison.

The former Girls Next Door star also recalled her relationship with magician Criss Angel in her candid memoir Down the Rabbit Hole, and while the pair seemed to be all smiles for cameras, their romance was far from meadows and rainbows behind closed doors.

Madison describes their love affair as a whirlwind romance that quickly took off once she split from Hef. "Seduced by this good-looking man who was seemingly frantic in his affections for me, I allowed myself to be lured in," she wrote.

However, the blond beauty quickly realized that she became a distraction from the fact that his Las Vegas show BeLIEve was a flop. "And, like a magician does when wanting to guide the audience's attention away from a trick, he needed to provide a distraction, or in magician's terms, 'a misdirection,' for the media the night of the show's opening. That night, unbenknownst to me, I was the misdirection."

Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Cirque du Soleil

The manipulation and question of whether Angel's actions were genuine began to grow as the staged photo-ops and antics for the paparazzi continued, but the lavish gifts and endearing words seemed to mask any immediate worry for the time being.

And when Criss was acting possessive, Holly just thought he was being protective.

"After a few trips back to the coast, Criss began insisting that one of his security guards accompany me. As our public profile continued to rise, Criss said it was in order to keep me safe. The guard would stay in a hotel near my condo and was to accompany me everywhere. It was awkward and embarrassing to have to explain to my friends why a security guard joined us for every meal."

However, it wasn't long until Angel's vices became a bit much to handle. "Criss' explosive temper was becoming increasingly mor alarming. I didn't want to go back to the mansion, Criss knew that, but it was as if he couldn't help his jealousy. For all his fame, fortune and success, Criss, to me, seemed cripplingly insecure. This was starting to feel all too familiar."

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She continued, "Hef was a master of manipulation and knew how to cripple a girl's self-esteem. Criss, on the other hand, just scared me."

Holly didn't end the relationship just yet, though, but noted that Angel would act extremely jealous of her success and possible opportunities, asking her to hand over business cards she'd gain from contacts in the industry and throwing a fit any time Playboy was mentioned in connection.

She added that during their fights, he'd "accuse me of being a slut" and say they should break up but then "freak out if I didn't try to convince him otherwise" before taking Holly in his arms "and tell me he loved me."

Finally enough was enough, and one fight became the last. Madison got on a plane back home to Portland after she and Angel called it quits, but ultimately ended up returning to Las Vegas to star in Peep Show.

"I felt like Hef was trying to sabotage me in Los Angeles by bad-mouthing me and leaving me out of Girls Next Door-related press, and now Criss was trying to banish me from Las Vegas," she wrote. "Sorry, boys, it's not going to be that easy."

E! News has reached out to Angel's camp for comment.