Mackenzie Phillips Opens Up On Oprah

   By drodriguez  Sep 27, 2009
34

Mackenzie Phillips shocked the public recently when she went on Oprah to reveal her account of a long term sexual relationship she had with her famous father, John Phillips.  The public remembers John Phillips, who died in 2001, best for being the leader of the well known singing group The Mamas & the Papas.  Mackenzie Phillips is best known for her role in the popular late 70’s and early 80’s sitcom One Day At A Time where she began playing the part of Julie Cooper at the age of 16.  Reaction to Mackenzie’s claims have been met with varying degrees of sympathy and disbelief.

According to Mackenzie Phillips she was 19 when her father raped her while she was blacked out from drug use.  Both she and her father were well known drug abusers for most of their lives, Mackenzie Phillips claiming she first tried cocaine at the age of 11.  Phillips told Winfrey that she did drugs with her father often and he was the one who taught her how to roll joints and injected her with cocaine. 

Phillips’ new book High On Arrival describes a 10 year "consensual" incestuous relationship she had with her father that followed the rape.  Friends and family of Mackenzie Phillips have responded to her recent announcement on both sides of the fence, some stand behind her and feel she is telling the truth while others claim these are false allegations she is making about John Phillips. 

Michelle Phillips, John’s ex-wife and ex-band member of The Mamas & the Papas has criticized Mackenzie for taking the news public.  She submitted a statement to CNN saying that, "Whether her relationship with her father is delusional or not, it is an unfortunate circumstance and very hurtful for our entire family." 

Michelle Phillips’ daughter and Mackenzie Phillips’ half sister, Chynna Phillips, has shown support for her sister.  Chynna admitted on Oprah that she has known about Mackenzie’s incestuous relationship for the last 12 years.  As to whether or not she thinks her sister is telling the truth, Chynna says that she believes no one would go to great lengths to declare to the world that they were having a consensual incestuous relationship with their father unless it were true.

As to why Mackenzie Phillips would go public with this information, she explained to Winfrey, "I understand this is a difficult thing for my family but nobody’s talking about this, and if I’ve started a national dialogue, then I’m forever grateful.

What do you think of Mackenzie Phillips’ use of a public forum to reveal incest allegations against John Phillips?

Do you think a sexual relationship between a father and daughter could ever be considered "consensual" as Mackenzie Phillips calls it?

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Comments
AngelEthanKaley by AngelEthanKaley | Bronx, NY
Sep 13, 2010

its sad but I hpe it helps women and men who are victims of sexual abuse speak about what happened to them and get help.

AimeeAken by AimeeAken | Omaha, NE
Nov 12, 2009

It is never consensual if it is with a child. With her own father? EWWWW?

marylynnf by marylynnf | Three Rivers, MI
Nov 05, 2009

She is a rape victim plain and simple and she is justifying like victims can do to make it a tolerable situation. The release of the book may be her therapy. Do I think she is lying NO WAY. Do I believe the drugs helped her through the situation - absolutely - dull the pain, push away the memories. Besides at the time no one probably believed her and she was most likely threatened. This is NOT sex - rape never is it is all about power and control. She is a victim and blaming her is not an answer. Blaming is like being raped all over again. She could never make enough money from the book to make up for the damage this has caused her physically and emotionally.

Dwalker by Dwalker | Acworth, GA
Oct 26, 2009

I understand the release you can get from airing your dirty laundry, but writing a book seems to be a little much! I guess she needed the money.

cybrown551 by cybrown551 | HOOKSETT, NH
Oct 25, 2009

I don't think that a sexual relationship between a daughter and father is ever ?consensual.? I call it rape. A child is not responsible when it comes to having sex with an adult. I think that she should look into more therapy because if she still believe that she had a choice than she is not ready to therapy or share her story with the public. She is still in denial.

luvz2shop by luvz2shop | boothwyn, PA
Oct 22, 2009

Wish she would have kept it to herself!

Eleanor by Eleanor | Alexandria, VA
Oct 15, 2009

If you read John Phillip's book you will see that his brain was so completely ruined by drug use that ANYTHING seemed reasonable. It would be impossible for a relationship between a child and her Father to be "consentual". Papa John was driven by demons of his own doing and sadly for his daughter, Mackenzie was victimized. It is the saddest kind of child abuse because fame and money had everyone involved dazzled into denial,

L_camille by L_camille | INGLESIDE, TX
Oct 14, 2009

Writing a book about this kind of thing just bothers me...yes it is very sad what happend to her..what her father did to her, but how could you even stand to be in the same room with ANY man who did something like this to you..especially your father.

mommymomo by mommymomo | daytona beach, FL
Oct 13, 2009

Reagrdless of what may have happened, this. in my opinion, is a desperate attempt for money and attention. Her life is her business. As I commented in the David Letterman blog, booty calls are none of my business. If she is truly a survivor of an unwanted sexual act or acts, coming out with this may be cathartic, however, this should be done in a therapists office, not on TV. This woman has had a life of severe drug abuse, alcohol problems, and eating disorders. Were these caused by her incestuous relationship? Not for us to decide. She needs to get help. My opinion only! Also, if her father is dead, it goes unsubstansiated. How is that fair? In that same breath, if he is guilty, he should be condemed by a jury of his peers. But not the jury of the public. We cannot be expected to decide on one side of a story. I could tell you I had an affair with Soupy Sales. Have I? He cannot deny it, so then it must be true. Think about it!

marlam by marlam | Tunkhannock, PA
Oct 08, 2009

I guess we will never know the real truth and it is very sad if true. How convenient that this has added fuel to her new book. It never would have sld without ths

Alyssarae92293 by Alyssarae92293 | BOYNTON BEACH, FL
Oct 07, 2009

She waited too long to say somthing abotu it......I mean the dad's dead! Now all its doing is damage

Jen7145 by Jen7145 | CONNEAUT, OH
Oct 05, 2009

She is selling a book. It seems whenever someone is putting a book out there, it is no holds barred. Though I really do not know how I actually feel about this . . . "Should it be kept private?" . . . "Should you make it public?" Obviously she has come to grips with what went on in her life, otherwise she would not be broadcasting it to the world.

rulistenin by rulistenin | Jackson, WY
Oct 02, 2009

The media has put so much focus on "the act" rather than the underlying problem, which is 'betrayal'. Mackenzie is probably a victim of trying to gain a parent's love and approval. She put her dad on a pedistal, in which he finally fell off of. The most painful kind of Betrayal is when it comes from a family member... especially a parent. (Sadly, I can say all this from experience. It was a different form of betrayal that I experienced, and it split the family. Other siblings who didn't go through the same hurtful games have no clue how significant the internal pain can be). I just pray God will help Mackenzie make it through, and one day maybe she will be able to let go of the sorrow.

ygarza5 by ygarza5 | fresno, CA
Oct 01, 2009

Tat is a very scary thing. I hope she is lying. But at the same time why would she? ANd of course if she is saying it is consensual then it was.

latinamom by latinamom | Kaufman, TX
Oct 01, 2009

I am very sorry for everything that she had to go through starting at an early age. What John Phillips did to Mackenzie is sickening. From introducing her to drugs to raping her and for continuing to abuse her for so many years. For those of you that are skeptical, it is said that other people knew about their relationship (this coming from the daughter of another member of the group). I can't imagine what she went through. It's hard enough being taken advantage from a stranger or friend, but from your own father....My prayers are with her.