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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jenndta69 by jenndta69 | SHERMAN OAKS, CA
Oct 01, 2009

I think it's just awful. It explains why she has had a problem staying clean. I hope she gains support and prayers in this tough time.

karlav87 by karlav87 | Palatine, IL
Oct 01, 2009

No wonder she is/was a druggie. Nasty!

patty_jo by patty_jo | Palestine, TX
Sep 30, 2009

This kind of stuff should never be made public. Hollywood is really trashy these days. This is exactly the reason I do not watch tv much anymore. I watch what I want online. I will get off my soap box now.

deegaroo by deegaroo | Dallas, TX
Sep 30, 2009

If what she is saying is true, I feel awful for her, but I'm extremely skeptical of the validity of her story. She has a history of lying, do drugs and anything else to get attention & to get money. Also her family doesn't believer her. This is something that doesn't belong in a public forum. It just doesn't.

crystal_s2007 by crystal_s2007 | hazard, KY
Sep 29, 2009

this is horrible & confusing to me. how could a father possibly do such a thing to his own daughter is something i will never be able to understand. it is just absolutely sickening and yet so sad! i think the woman is honestly telling the truth about this. i don't care if she was on drugs or what, there is no way someone could fabricate such an awful & disturbing story. i don't know how she kept this bottled inside for such a long amount of time, maybe if she had told someone the first time it occured she wouldn't have been led down the path which she has but this was not at all her fault & i hate that the poor woman is being so awfully criticized for sharing this. this is the first step in her getting on the right path & being able to continue on with a sober life afterall...

momagarry by momagarry | MILWAUKEE, WI
Sep 29, 2009

I am just at a lost of words. I do not know how to respond to this show. I was blown away.

crysrocke by crysrocke | PHILADELPHIA, PA
Sep 29, 2009

I'm very sorry for any woman that has has this happen to them. What I don't understand is that she was 18 when it happened. When it first happened, why didn't she tell anyone or get away from him? It seems bizzarre to be a young woman making money, having a career and not being able to reject her father's sexual advances. I understand she admired him but a 10 year sexual relationship into adulthood doesn't make sense to me. As stated on Oprah, she knew better and her father was a creep.

msfriendly by msfriendly | MONROE, WI
Sep 29, 2009

I cannot even imagine the life that some people have or have had. I hope she sees this as a cleansing and can now enjoy the rest of her life.

PaulaK by PaulaK | Fairfield, IA
Sep 29, 2009

It must have taken incredible strength for her to come out on the Oprah show. For everyone who wonders why she came out with this now, keep in mind that she did tell her sister and others twelve years ago. Also, other people in her father's band were aware of what was going on as it was happening. I don't think this is something she fabricated. I think that this is just when she felt confident enough in herself to reveal the awful skeletons in her closet. I'm rooting for her.

pjkrotz by pjkrotz | Haverhill, MA
Sep 29, 2009

I have never had this happen to me, but I agree, we can't judge her for the decision she made to speak out. That is a terrible thing to happen and hopefully she can speak to someone who can help her now. Although I am sure, it will take some time, maybe she can being to heal now.

shashuna32 by shashuna32 | jonesboro, AR
Sep 28, 2009

Being a survivor of incest myself, I believe if she felt the need to tell what happened to her as a way of dealing with her pain, then who are any of us to judge her. That's whats wrong with a lot of families who have had this happen, people are being too quiet, but to bring it out makes the situation real. Some of my family still don't believe me, but I continue to go on with life. Yes, I have forgiven those who did what they did, but I have not forgotten. An incident occured with my four year old ( at the time) daughter where she was molested by two of her 13 year old cousins. So I just suggest that anyone who knows that a curse like that haunts your family speak up before it happens to someone you love.

bdesarro by bdesarro | E LIVERPOOL, OH
Sep 28, 2009

After hearing so much buzz about this episode, i decided to watch it. i have mixed feelings. i don't understand why she is coming out and saying this. in my opinion, some things are meant to be kept either competely private, or only be told to the people that should know such as a therapist, close family members and close friends. i am quite confused as to why she has come out saying all of this. her poor son, what he must be going through. what about the girl that was married to her father, how embaressing for her. i don't know. i just don't think that this issue is something that should be this public.

lbowlus by lbowlus | Flower Mound, TX
Sep 28, 2009

I think that it is perfectly rational for her to go public now that her tormentor is dead. Now she can confront it without him too going on tv and declaring her a liar thus victimizing her again only this time publicly. Look at how her family is victimizing and they weren't even involved. Although on some level they knew and didn't want to know. I believe her. I have no reason not to. And even if she had been a chronic liar in the past and came out with this whopper now. I have to believe their is a Kernel of truth in everything a lair says. So, at least some of this happened. Her step mom only is concerned with how this make HER look. Not about McKenzey. She should really be ashamed of herself for saying anything at all. She only wants to get publicity for her dead career.

Chanfan by Chanfan | Memphis, TN
Sep 28, 2009

I hope that by her going public and saying outloud what she has gone through, that the healing process will begin for her. We trust our parents and family members to protect us and guide us to lead a healthy and productive life. When something like this happens, the victim tends to try and find reasons to validate why the person harmed them in this way. She is in my thoughts and prayers.

junconventional by junconventional | RICHMOND, VA
Sep 28, 2009

I have an issue with her deciding to go public when the person isn't there to defend or speak for themselves. She was nineteen and realizing that she was on drugs, I'm not sure how she could convince herself to continue that relationship. I'm not sure how he decided that was a proper relationship either.