Mackenzie Phillips is claiming in her new book, High on Arrival, that on the eve of her 1979 wedding she slept with her musician father, John Phillips. “My father was not a man with boundaries,” writes the actress, who is appearing on Oprah this afternoon. “He was full of love, and he was sick with drugs. I woke up that night from a blackout to find myself having sex with my own father.”
Singer-songwriter Phillips was, of course, the founder of the Mamas and the Papas who enjoyed an extraordinary run of hits in the late ’60s, including “California Dreamin’,” “Monday, Monday,” and “Dedicated to the One I Love.” He also co-wrote the 1988 Beach Boys hit “Kokomo.” But Phillips had a number of addiction issues which undoubtedly contributed to the patchiness of his post-Mamas solo career and, ultimately, to his demise in 2001 at the age of 65.
Two questions immediately spring to mind: Given that John Phillips is not around to refute this accusation from his own, much troubled, daughter, do you believe her? And, if so, will you ever be able to happily listen to “California Dreamin’” ever again?
More on Mackenzie Phillips’ book:
Mackenzie Phillips details drug use and incest in new memoir
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Photo credit: John:Ralph Dominguez/Globe Photos; Mackenzie: Richard Drew/AP Images
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Although I wouldn’t put anything past John, he is dead and cannot reply to her charges. I think she is a junkie (sad) who needs money for her legal fees and she sees this as a way to make $$$. That’s all.
Agreed.
While she might be telling the truth, the fact that John is not here to defend himself against the incest allegation makes it hard to think about giving up all of that wonderful music.
Let the music stand on its own.
This, 100%.
Agreed. If we rejected all art that was created by anyone whose behavior was less than honorable, we’d be left with very little to enjoy.
No one to speak up and say that she’s lying(well except for her step-mother and John’s last wife). Hey, the drugs think she’s telling the truth.
Good old American Capitalism
To blame capitalism for any of this is childish.
Another wonderful product of our educational system.
I agree.
I once worked on a show a couple of years ago and she was a guest. On her way out the door, blood exploded out of her nose. We all felt bad for her and pretended we didn’t see it as she ran for the sedan we had waiting for her. We all kind of guessed at what she was doing when her dressing room door was closed.
That’s telling, but still not proof that she’s a liar, just that she’s a user.
Agreed, but it also helps you to understand what type of person is making the accusation.
“it also helps you to understand what type of person is making the accusation.”
The kind of person whose father corrupted her when she was young, you mean?
Exactly, her drug use – and especially the drug use of her father – is entirely wrapped up in her claim. So is the “type of person” she is the type who has had a troubled life she still can’t seem to get past?
Interesting. I suspect she’s broke…and the publisher told her we will give you a contract if you have something salacious to tell us…and there it is…I find it hard to believe.
It is wrong but not shocking as their lifestyle mitigated their actions. She was not a child and both of them were strung out. I am not minimizing this but all things considered what can you expect?
A relative of mine was caught in bed with her 21 yr old son while they were both Coked out of their minds…..it is 100% possible, and disturbingly common amongst families that share drugs.
By the way, if 11 yrs old isn’t a child, then what age is?
Jason, she was 11 when she first tried cocaine but 17 or 18 when she alleges her father raped her.
She is a crackhead lookin for some money by spitting on her dead fathers grave. How absolutely horrible of her. She should be beaten with sticks
So let’s burn some more witches, eh
So women are guilty until proven innocent? Men innocent even if proven guilty, eh?
What’s with all the Canadians, eh?
What about Michael Jackson?
And what a fine, upstanding father he was.
Sure, just because she is on drugs she “deserved” what happened…not true
Oh, and you were in the room and an intimate part of their entourage so you know exactly what went on?
Peterbilt-the-nature-boy needs to go get lost in nature and stay away from women. “Beaten with sticks?” It’s just not funny, and it just shows your contempt for ALL women. Who broke your heart, jerk? Get therapy.
I don’t know if the exact allegations are true, but the father must have done something pretty awful for her to even consider making this kind of accusation. That makes me believe her.
Why does anyone need to share that with the public?
Something wrong with TRUTH if it is true? We are not ostriches…or are we?
It might be the truth, but it’s truth that’s none of my business, and I wish I could un-learn it.
I agree. Whether it’s true or not, it’s sad how this kind of thing is always conveniently disclosed when there’s a book to sell or a movie to promote.
I agree. I’m not doubting it happened but maybe that’s just because I would never be able to make up something this horrible. Obviously she’s in recovery and is coming clean. I just don’t think it had to be on Oprah. I know she wanted to put a face on consensual incest.
I am inclined to agree with erinkate. We’ll never know, since John Phillips can’t defend himself.
Celebrity tell-alls are nothing but an excuse for mentally unhealthy people to draw attention to themselves for cash. If what she’s saying is true, then she should be working all of this out with therapists, and putting her energy into healing and moving on with her life.
Isn’t it possible that her therapist advised her to tell all?
Yeah – perhaps he or she has a cut of the book profits.
Most therapists do advise victims of abuse to talk about it with other’s but not on national television. There is a time, way and place to deal with situations like this; this is not one of them.
I’m sure her therapist DID advise her to come clean about her life, but probably on the therapist’s couch, not in a published book. My guess is that the accusations are true, but to disclose it now, like this, is ridiculous!
However, John may be dead but Michelle is not. I’m sure we will hear something from her, unless she was also too stoned to know what was going on in her own house with her own step daughter.
Michelle had problems of her own with John – hence the divorce. this is why I so love these posts…people who have no real interest in the topic (any of you Mackensie fans) and who will never plan on reading (or watching or listening) the item at hand feel the need to expose there opinion on the issue…viva freedom of speech, but boy does our ignorance and lack of compassion show.
let me clarify – I did not mean that everyone is not a fan or will not plan on reading the book..it’s just typical that’s all
1979…he was into his 3rd marriage by then (I believe), so Michelle wasn’t around to see. I have ready articles that Chynna Phillips did not know of this, but believes and supports her sister.
WOW!!!
No, I wouldn’t boycott the music. It has nothing to do with this. Unfortunately, this taints the legacy of the M’s & P’s, and I can’t help but wonder that maybe our society likes to reveal too much at this point. I wish I had never heard about this, but not enough to be outraged, just troubled by it.
Their legacy is nothing BUT tainted. They were all very screwed up people.
I’m boycotting their music only because it is awful! It’s like the soundtrack to a yogurt commercial.
Crispy, that is so wrong and yet SO frickin’ hilarious.
I heard California Dreamin’ this morning and I felt dirty. I don’t know. The whole thing is crazy.
Why should you feel dirty? Can you carry the load of it?
What?
She goes on to say this was the start to a longterm consenual sexual relationship between the two, so beyond the alleged initial encounter, I don’t know how much sympathy I have for her. It does seem suspicious that she has been in the public eye for decades and never brought this up until had been dead for 8 years.
until her father had been dead*
Just look at the responses in this list…that should tell you why anyone would not bring it up.
Exactly, that’s why the truth of her story is suspicious to me…
Yes, but she has made other allegations against him over the years, allegations that were not at all complimentary… yet now all of the sudden, this new revelation? Seems suspicious.
Amen brothah!
I think the fact that she alleges a longterm sexual relationship indicates that this is not for sympathy at all. Otherwise, she would simply blame her father; to me, it looks like she is just telling her story (whatever the motivations for that are).
I agree, I just don’t understand why she would bring this about now.
I would not boycott his music. I would, however, boycott her new book.
Am I supposed to know who this is?
If you regularly comment on entertainment websites, then yes, you should. Otherwise, Mackenzie was never really the most famous of the Phillips clan (I only really know her as the annoying “kid” in American Graffiti).
Did you watch “One Day At A Time”? She was the slightly slutty older sister.
She needs to keep this between her and her therapist and out of our view. ICK!!!!!
Why should she do this for you? Out of site-out of mind? Go back to your tea-party.You can’t handle the truth.
There is a difference between talking about your issues with loved ones to help you get through it, and telling the whole world on national TV. We don’t all need to know her dirty secrets. Why do celebrities feel the need to announce everything to the whole world?
It’s not a “dirty” secret, it’s an incredibly sad truth, if what she is saying is true but national TV isn’t the place to put it out there. I see this doing more harm than good for other abuse victims.
How could she? She was happy about it and I think she enjoyed. What is she claiming now? Did the father make her pregnant. Did she married the day after this? If yes did she confess to her suitor the very same morning?
She just want her writings to attract attention of many.
Suitor? If he was upset did she have to give back the dowry?
I don’t think it’s as narcisitic and vindictive as most people commenting. I think her continued drug abuse and issues could easily stem from this burden. I think waiting 18 years means that this was not a tell-all because daddy can’t defend but a troubling part of her existence that she labored to suppress at the continued cost of her life. Admitting it had to be one of the most difficult but necessary things she could do to start healing.
Having said that, I still wish I didn’t know.
waiting years to admit to anyone an abuse issue is very normal…it took me 28 years to admit to my family something that happened by a family friend when I was 10 years old…hiding a secret like this is very common; but putting this out there like this is wrong on so many levels I can’t even begin to count them.
she enjoyed being “raped”, as she states the relationship began? It is comments like that that perpetrate the myth that women ask for it. She chose the wrong way to deal with this issue but no woman asks for it when the situation is a rape. That is not a relationship; it is a violent attack on a person.
i never had sex with my father, i was never raped by anyone, i have never ever been a drunk nor have i taken drugs. her story seemed unbelievable and outrageous and shocking yet for some reason i do believe her. her reasons for telling this at this time are hers.maybe now she can move on.she admits to being sick with drugs and messed up. this is so far beyond my comprehension i would not even begin to judge. i agree with ellen, i wish i didn;t know.
There isn’t even a smidge of dry, sarcastic humor or subversiveness in the Sweet Valley books and last time I checked, Cody is all about sarcastic, dry humor and controversy. So how are these two a good match again?
Haha….I think you have the wrong article.
hahahah
I arrived at this “entertainment” site accidentally, and let myself get sucked in. Shame on me. However, the above misplaced response ALMOST made it worthwhile! Hysterical!
Won’t boycott the music. Will boycott the book. Not out of some honor to John Phillips, but because I won’t get up in arms about something this insidious that can never be proven true or false.
Boycott the Bible too! Many scenes of incest therein.
For instance: Where did Cain’s and Abel’s wives come from?
For the record, Mac was once again in rehab for drugs. However, it does not matter if she is or was an addict. John, as much of a talented artist he was, chose a life of music and drugs. It’s a fact. Maybe she is making this molestation thing up, but maybe not? Anyway, she was not the only star to have been influenced by their parents mistakes. Independent film director Robert Downey Sr., Robert Downey Jr.’s father introduced his boy to a life of drugs. Seriously.
Well based on the snippets that I’ve heard so far, she’s not even claiming molestation but a consensual long-term relationship, so it’s not like she’d really get sympathy votes from anyone. It’s just throwing one’s dirty laundry out on the front lawn for the whole neighborhood to see, except in the case of famous or even slightly famous people, the neighborhood is all of us, and you get paid for each load of laundry you put on the lawn.
she is claiming it started a a “rape” and it wasn’t until later it became consensual and if it is true she deserves sympathy but still this is not the way to tell your story; on national TV.
OMGosh, that is one messed up woman. Saying she had “sex” with her father…FYI, if you are passed out from drugs and you “wake up” and someone is on top of you that is called “rape”. I believe her, I mean it is a known fact that her father gave her drugs and exposed her to his depraved lifestyle, it’s not much of a leap to see him raping her and in fact I serioulsy doubt it was the first time..maybe the first time “she woke-up” but not the first time he raped her. I feel really bad for her, no child should have to live the way she did, no one cared about her and no one protected her…truly sad.
What John Phillips allegedly did was disgusting enough, but the idea that Mackenzie claims it was a ‘consensual’ relationship is even more disgusting! This is stooping pretty low…even for her! Mackenzie is a has-been, washed up, used up “actress” who ought to be ashamed of herself for writing this sort of ‘kiss and tell’ book. That’s for her therapist and her to sort out, not the whole world. As for the music, I prefer the Beach Boys cover of California Dreaming over the original anyway.
oh the Beach Boys…shall we start on their “perfect” lives too…
I believe her – apparently, she told her sister Chynna Phillips years ago. But why wait until you’re 50 years old to reveal this to the public, especially when the man is dead. We’ll never hear his side of the story, so what’s the point. As for the Mamas & the Papas, their music is timeless. Most music lives independently from scandal (i.e., Michael Jackson, Rick James, Sinead O’Connor) so it shoudn’t affect them either.
The comments here are evidence that we live in a misogynistic world, in which women who tell a terrible truth are pilloried and lambasted. I’m guessing that, like many victims of sexual abuse, she is trying to liberate herself and find her soul by standing in her truth. Secrecy is the main power tool used on victims of sexual abuse by their abusers. I think that she loves her dad, which is why she waited until he was gone in order to tell the truth. All these previous comments are a sign that most people prefer to live in their entertainment cloud and eschew reality. Folks, incest is alive and kicking on this planet, and even famous “nice guys” commit incest. We’re witnessing generative psychopathology and Mackenzie Phillips is actually helping other incest victims by displaying courage and fortitude.
She wasn’t any kind of victim. Calling her that belittles all of the true victims out there.
How is someone who get’s doped by their own father and raped not a victim?
She was the victim of bad parenting. She was raised in an environment that encouraged the use of drugs and as a result she was using drugs before most kids even start kissing. She is a victim…her drug problems stem from her parents’ lack of supervision.
I agree. Just because she says it, does not make it true. Truly sad for real victims.
Tubeuser: Doesn’t make it a lie either. Fact is, we can never really know to a certainty either way.
rock golf – what we DO know is that drug addicts lie.
What we also KNOW is that drug addicts are prime targets for rape and sexual abuse.
Grey — Hear, hear. It’s horrifying to see all these commenters failing to grasp how the abuse of parental authority can selfishly consume the direction of a child’s life before they’ve had a chance to form their own adult psyche.
Amen to that. Beyond whether anything can be proven, the fact is that incest is horrific, it skews your entire sense of being and sense of right and wrong, because how can someone you love do something so wrong? It would make you feel wrong. Shame on people talking about “true” victims. What do you people know anyway? Who are YOU to say who is a victim and who isn’t? Sanctimonious bastards.
It is not an act of love to tell the world your late father raped you. It is an act of revenge. He cannot defend himself, he is forever gone. If he did this, it is horrible. But how can we know? As surely as we shouldn’t dismiss all allegations of rape as fabrications, we also should not naively accept any such allegation at face value without any evidence.
By extension, Jo, you infer that no woman should cry rape unless she has scientific prove beyond all doubt that it occured.
I hope nothing like that happens to any woman you care for.
Baloney
I think this may miss the point a bit. Telling the truth does not have to be either an act of love or revenge– it can be just truth. Letting go of these kinds of “secrets” is part of moving past them– it removes the power it has in the survivor’s life. Also, it is not unheard of for survivors of incest and rape to continue “consensual” relationships with the parent or rapist. So slow down on all the judgments. Finally, “But how can we know?” does not really matter in the equation. it may help “us” feel better, but in the end– and the beginning– it is not at all about “us.” I think We really need to grasp that.
I think she is probably telling the truth. I also believe that victims of this type of crime need to tell the truth as a form of liberation. But does the world need to know. How does it help her to now have the world look at her with this along with the drug addictions… Tell the truth with your friends and family…. I don’t need to know…
How could you know even if he wasn’t dead?
AMEN
Grey and Stephen: Couldn’t agree with you more. The negative and judgmental comments here are sad and shocking. With these attitudes, it’s no wonder that incest victims are afraid to speak out. I’m glad she spoke out, for herself, and for the benefit of every victim of incest who is silenced by fear of the very types of comments posted here. I hope she can get to the point where she realizes that this was not a consensual relationship. Her rights to consent were taken from her the moment her father crossed and violated those boundaries, no matter what her age. I feel for what she is going through and wish her well on her path to recovery.
Ditto to everything you said, Grey. Looking at these comments are absolutely soul-crushing. Thank you for your humanity.
Grey, thank you! You are exactly right.
Totally agree. Let’s stop judging and start giving her some space to let go of her demons the way she chose to.
So help other victims, but conveniently sell a book too? Is she donating some of those proceeds? She could just come out with the story without a book. Most normal people who have honest intentions do that.
Who really cares? They were both adults. If two adults want to do it, what business is that of mine?
I don’t know Tony….goog question. Now go get high and screw your own daughter, you insensitive bastard.
Talked to many 19-year-olds lately, Tony? Yep, people at that age tend to have fully formed psyches that allow them to always make responsible and informed decisions.
Also, she was passed out the first time it happened. But you know, she was an adult, so I guess it makes it OK.
Also, there’s the problem of father-daughter power dynamics. But whatever.
What business is it of yours? It’s everyone’s business to be aware that incest happens, that it’s not OK, that it shouldn’t be kept a secret from anyone, and that it shouldn’t just be discussed among family and close friends in order to protect reputations.
This is not an “inappropriate” topic for “polite company”. It’s a very real problem and brushing it under the rug is precisely what allows people like Phillip Garrido and Josef Fritzl to get away with their crimes for years.
it doesn’t matter if they were 2 adults…if the first time she was passed out, woke up to him on her that isn’t two adults having sex that is a man raping a women who was unconcious which is not something she asked for, agreed to or wanted. It was not two adults having sex, it was a man taking advantage of a women when she couldn’t stop him. It was rape, not sex; rape is not a sexual act, it is an act of violence perpetrated by one person on another person without their consent. Most victims don’t report it because of people like you who judge and say “big deal”. You are probably one who thinks no really means yes but I don’t want to say it. The first time was rape, what happened afterwards who knows
I agree with BigHoss – boycott her book. This is just ridiculous and does nothing but harm those that have been through real abuse. If she did indeed go through that, then why wait until her father was dead and unable to defend himself? She’s clearly after the attention and money…even if it is true.
Come on he cant defend himself is her word against a dead man ….Puleeeease she needed to fill a void in her book and all publicity whether its bad or good is publicity and she knows that …she just made me feel so ashamed to call her a sister female…who does that??? who blurts crap like that to the public…?? she needs to be happy within herself and this is BS it reaks of her being a moron ….even if its the truth or not….dirty laundry goes into the washing machine not the shelves have some dignity chick
I agree it’s possible that this is an attention seeking cash grab on her part. But honestly? He always seemed pretty skeevy to me so I have no trouble believing this. None.
dont know her to make such a determination and what does music have to do with these sad and depraved circumstances
The fact that someone would print this garbage is one thing, the fact that someone would read it is another. She’s a crackhead who will ultimately wind up on an episode of COPS, if she hasn’t been on the show already.
Incest in America is not that uncommom….but all these scandalized comments sure reflects upon another sickness in our midst that is far more dangerous.
Incest is not an American problem, it is a problem around the world. You are prone to blaming the wrong things..
He said nothing about it being only in America, but the circumstances here described did take place in America… and Americans do have a different perspective on things than most of the world, sensationalism is what we want, that and to judge others from our comfortable couches.
Why would anyone share these kinds of details, unless they are just trying to sell their book and make some money. Nuts.
Perhaps she is actually attempting to come clean after all these years…and being honest about all of the nasty occurrences in one’s life is a part of a 12-step program? Who knows? I feel sorry for her as well as, her father’s dead carcass.
Does McK Phillips have children? Is John the father and the grandfather of them? Is that why he named the band the Mamas and Papas?
This comment has been pulled over for too many questions.
I believe she does have a teenage son, and I feel really terrible for him right now. Can you imagine the comments he is going to get from his classmates?
Just wait for his book.
wait for his book? that should be interesting since he is dead
Even if her accusations are true, what good can possibly come from revealing such a sordid thing?
What a scummy thing to do!
It could give another young girl the realization that she’s not all alone in the world, so perhaps she could summon the courage to escape from her own abusive father. That’s a pretty powerful effect for good.
I agree Stephen. I have never had this happen to me, but I do suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It took me seeing other people coming forward to talk about their problems for me to realize that I am not “weak” or “wrong,” but that something happened to me that needs to be addressed. It felt good to know that I was not alone.
As a victim of sexual abuse myself, I tell you that revealing this to a therapist or your closest friends would be a logical way to deal in the healing process. But to reveal it to the WHOLE FREAKING WORLD is just wrong.
No good can come of this.
For me, it’s a question if it’s true. When conveniently everyone involved is dead, she can say what she wants. I acknowledge that it could help others in the same situation, IF she’s being truthful.
This is rather unfortunate and disturbing. Obviously, they were both out of their minds on drugs and drugs can turn people into Monsters. If this really happened, I would most likely say that John probably would never have acted like that sober. I agree that she should have kept this private,considering he isn’t here to defend himself if its incorrect. You have to consider the rest of the family when you say something like this….its Horrible. But, perhaps this is what she needed to get off her chest and a reason why she is such an addict. Incest occurs in families all the time and she never said it happened more then once. Drugs is the culprit here, not so much John. IF…. this is true!
Sorry, how can you say drugs, not John, would be the culprit if this is true? There are PLENTY of drug addicts out there who would definitely draw the line at f’ing their kid. He must have already had the inclination. And I would doubt it would have been the first time he’d done something physical to her. Gross. The whole thing.
I can’t believe people would take up for a man who raped and shot up his own daughter with drugs. I’m ashamed.