Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, a longtime friend of Bill Cosby who often had the comedian over to the Playboy Mansion for parties, said Saturday that the sexual abuse charges against Cosby were "saddening."

Issuing a statement, the Playboy head honcho said Cosby "has been a good friend for many years and the mere thought of these allegations is truly saddling."

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Hefner went on to say he would never tolerate that type of behavior no matter who was involved.

Hefner's statement was prompted by allegations that Cosby forced a 15-year-old girl to perform sexual acts while at the Playboyt mansion. The act took place in 1974 when Cosby was a regular fixture at Hefner's playground for adults. 

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed Friday that it opened an investigation in the incident. While at least 21 women now have come forward with sexual abuse charges against Cosby, most of those charges have exceeded the statute of limitations and can't be prosecuted. Child abuse, however, doesn't have a statue of limitations.

The L.A. charges came following the intervention of renowned women's rights attorney Gloria Allred who represents Judy Huth, the women who said she was molested as a teenager by Cosby during the 1974 Playboy Mansion incident.

During a Friday news conference, Allred said Huth met with special victims unit detectives of the LAPD and vowed to provide detectives with "and and all evidence she has." Allred and Huth didn't questions during the news conference.

Representing Cosby, another prominent celebrity attorney Martin Singer said Huth and another attorney, Marc Streaker were guilty of attempted extortion towards Cosby.

Singer said in court documents that the duo asked for $100,000 for Huth to keep silent, then increased the asking price to $250,000 after other women went public with sexual abuse allegations against Cosby.

TagsBill Cosby, Hugh Hefner, playboy mansion, Sexual Abuse, Rape, celebrities