In a stunning revelation, former child star Mackenzie Phillips disclosed that she had been involved in a consensual s–ual relationship with her father, renowned rock star John Phillips, lasting for a decade.
The actress, now 49 years old and known for her role in the '70s-'80s sitcom “One Day at a Time,” made this admission during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Phillips shared that the illicit relationship began when she was just 18 years old, after being raped by her father in a hotel room while she was unconscious from a drug-induced stupor.
Despite this traumatic incident, she continued to use drugs and engage in consensual s–ual activities with him over the years, even after marrying Jeff Sessler at the age of 19.
It was only when she became pregnant and suspected her father might be the father of her child that the relationship came to an end, with John Phillips reportedly arranging for an abortion.
During her appearance on Winfrey's show to promote her new book, “High on Arrival,” Phillips recounted the disturbing memory of waking up to find herself engaging in s–ual intercourse with her father.
She expressed bewilderment over how the situation had unfolded and admitted to burying the experience deep within herself for decades, choosing to compartmentalize the trauma as a coping mechanism.
The alleged incidents of s–ual abuse took place in the late 1970s, as recounted by Phillips, who is the daughter of the lead singer of the iconic band the Mamas and the Papas.
Although she finally mustered the courage to confront her father about the rape, he shockingly dismissed her accusation, reinterpreting their interactions as romantic rather than abusive.
In response to Mackenzie's revelations, Michelle Phillips, her stepmother and a former member of the Mamas and the Papas, expressed skepticism and attributed Mackenzie's claims to mental health issues and a prolonged history of substance abuse.
Michelle implied that Mackenzie harbored envy towards her accomplished siblings who had not succumbed to drug addiction.
Following her dismissal from “One Day at a Time” due to her escalating substance abuse problems in 1980, Mackenzie began touring with her father's new band, the New Mamas and the Papas.
It was during this period that she admitted to regularly partaking in drug use and engaging in s–ual encounters with her father, albeit intermittently.
Despite the passage of time, Mackenzie Phillips's shocking revelations continue to spark debates and discussions about the complexities of family dynamics, trauma, and the enduring impact of abuse.
The actress's candid account sheds light on the harrowing experiences she endured and the emotional turmoil she grappled with throughout her life.
