Playboy Bunny dealers let go at The Palms

A group of Playboy Club Bunny dealers who were fired at The Palms are madder than a honey badger.

Vegas Confidential has learned they plan to meet Thursday with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming they were terminated without notice, according to Susie Wilcox, one of the 12 terminated bunny dealers.

“They told us a day before that we had a mandatory meeting,” Wilcox said. “They said our position was being eliminated.”

The Palms plans to replace the bunny dealers, who were subject to tightly controlled Playboy requirements, with contract dealers hired away from other party pits around town.

“I personally believe Hugh Hefner would be appalled,” said Wilcox.

“They’re changing the definition of what it is to be a bunny. To be a bunny was iconic, not attainable to any girl who wants to put on cuffs, and collars and their bunny ears. It’s more than looks.”

The EECOC investigates complaints of job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin or disability.

Wilcox added, “We were blindsided and replaced."

A Palms executive confirmed the move to hire contract bunny dealers at the Playboy Club, which opened five years ago in the Fantasy Tower. It was the first Playboy Club to open in 25 years.

“There were issues,” said the source. “(Management) decided to go the contract route.”

Wilcox said the bunny mom who was in charge of upholding Playboy’s standards was recently let go.

When the bunnies were let go Nov. 2, they were informed they could not return to the property for 90 days, Wilcox said.

--NORM CLARKE, Vegas Confidential