Mackenzie Phillips Defends Father Despite Incest, Stepmom Michelle Phillips Calls Her A Liar (VIDEO)

(AP TEXT, SCROLL FOR VIDEO)
NEW YORK - Mackenzie Phillips has defended her father John Phillips as "a good man" despite her claims that they had an incestuous affair.

Meanwhile, her stepmother, Michelle Phillips, the ex-wife of the late pop superstar, says Phillips is lying about the affair.

The 49-year-old former child actress writes in her new book, "High on Arrival," that she had a decade-long sexual relationship with her father, and alleges they had sex on the night before she was to get married in 1979 at age 19...

Phillips, 49, who starred on TV's "One Day at a Time," said the sexual relationship with her father lasted a decade and ended when she became pregnant and didn't know who had fathered the child. She had an abortion, for which her father paid.

Interviewed on NBC's "Today" show Thursday, Phillips said it was "a very permissive time and a very rock 'n' roll world and pretty much anything went." Her father "did the best he could," she said...

But her stepmother (and former Mamas and the Papas member) Michelle Phillip sharply differs with the sexual allegations.

"I have every reason to believe it's untrue," she told the Hollywood Reporter. "Mackenzie has a lot of mental illness. She's had a needle stuck up her arm for 35 years. She was arrested for heroin and coke just recently. She did 'Celebrity Rehab' and now she writes a book. The whole thing is timed."

Half-sister Chynna Phillips told US Weekly that Mackenzie Phillips told her about the sexual relationship in 1997.

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"Do I believe that they had an incestuous relationship and that it went on for 10 years? Yes," Chynna Phillips said.

But Genevieve Waite, John Phillips' wife at the time of the alleged abuse and Mackenzie's stepmother, said in a statement, "John was a good man who had the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction. He was incapable, no matter how drunk or drugged he was, of having such a relationship with his own child."

During her "Today" appearance, Phillips pronounced herself drug-free, and she characterized the skepticism with which her book has been received as typical for a family visited by incest.

"The instinct is to brush it under the table. The instinct is to protect the abuser," she said.

She characterized her book as a way to expose a problem that extends beyond the Phillips family, describing herself as "a voice for this large community of incest survivors that don't know where to go or what to do or how to talk about what happened in their lives."


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Comments

[DrPepper01]

I am not surprised by Mackenzie's story. I sure don't think bad of her. I was in a marriage with a family where consensual incest was known to happen. Personally, I have been OK with two willing people having sex, no matter what their relationship or age. I don't think it is right for adult men to prey on young girls. What bothers me is people going after older women who are with young guys, I would have loved to have an older woman be with me when I was a kid. A great way to learn how to treat a woman right.

I am sure that there are many cases where things were not good for one or both parties in such relationships, but there situations where warm, loving relationships have been good for both people.

[roshni]

STEPMONSTER - MP gives a whole new meaning to the word.

[deeriley]

Aaaaand the gullible public eats it all up, lol...

[Steph55]

Children engaged in coercive sexual "play" is still sexual abuse. Forget what some wacko says about 3 yrs difference, yada yada! You can't tell that to a 6 yr old who is assaulted in a school rm closet and had oral sex forced upon them, even when they are the same exact age.

Ever notice most of the b'tards putting out the excuses for child abuse are MEN???I remember one case of a psychiatrist!!! who raped, and I mean raped several tiny children, all under 5 yrs in Calif. back in the 60's and 70's and kept getting let out.......­..cause he was in therapy, had dealt with his "feelings" etc. They continued to let him out, til he finally killed one of them!!!

Afterall he was a respected man in his community; a man, and a professional, and the bonus card, he'd been remorseful!!!

First time, they need to locked up---and I do mean permanently!!! There is NO cure, and there won't be, it is part depravity, part mental compulsion, but first and foremost, it is learned behavior; meaning they LEARN they can get away with it, and so they CONTINUE to do it.

Every decent parent knows that: THEY DO WHAT THEY LEARN THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH.

It really is that simple. And Yes, it is expensive, but do YOU want to put a price on every abused child's experience????Do you? Really?

[happymom]

I just have to say I think God for Oprah and may she continue to be truly blessed!

She has done more for abuse victims by giving them a platform to tell their stories than any other talk show host in the country. Thanks for giving McKenzie another chance and for opening up dialogue on these extremely difficult issues.

Thanks Oprah and may the pedophiles continue to despise you for the work you've done on behalf of the children of this country.

[happymom]

that was supposed to be thank----not think----oops. typing too fast.

[jentilpet]

Please let us not make "Oprah} a saint for "Abuse",because when I left a message on her XM Radio recording.­.telling her to create her "Acrerage land,hundreds of acres,into a sancuary,refuge,she ignored my plea! Why doesn't she ever mention "Animal Abuse?",If "I" had that sum of $$$, I'd live my dream to "pay" those who are too afraid to give up locations for "dog fighting!" I'm certain at 1/2 mil,those guys who have admitted,t­his,fear,i­f they "talk".."w­ould,Indee­d!" tell authorities where these horrific,killing fields are!!Sure,she gives away appliances­,but..she can& so she does..but one cannot abuse from those criminals.­.evil,ente­r:Vick's "innate" need to kill,since 8yrs old..they only Now want him to undo years of "evil?"
Mackenzie,Philips waited until her father died to tell such a scathing story..lik­e "O" said "I've never heard anyone say,it was "consentual",she's right about that,but why does "O" live in[has residency] in Hawaii,when the government ignores "any" hint of touching,a young woman,chil­d,etc??She contradicts herself,big time,but since she's been oblivious,lacking intellectual depth,questions that are sometimes so naive,it would be evident that her "early" fame,didn't give her the time to live a real life..only learning now? I've heard her,ask the most insipid things,most of us already know,or for me,knew years ago,I've been reading longer than she,& books she's never heard of re: spiritual issues..Th­e word "spiritual " has become her new platform,I already knew,read the most influencial books in the 70's,it's been said!
Now,for McKensie/c­ontinued..

[cybersense]

You know, at this point you have to believe her - until there is something that shows you shouldn't.

and it isn't a step mom that is in denial. I know drugs messes up the mind and emotions, but at this point....I hope this does something for others out there.

I have seen this, btw....fir­st hand watching a girlfriend at school do this. Everyone is in denial, until someone else shows them a mirror. Wow.

I hope this helps Phillips and others somehow.

[happymom]

Yes, exactly. Well said. Not until the information is brought into the sunlight is there ever real healing.

By opening up the dialogue other victims will feel comfortable talking about their past and the more the victims talk the better educated we will all become about how the pedophiles operate. The best education we can get as a country is by the victims of the abuse. It's time to listen to them even when the details are painful and disgusting to hear.

[Sharon1951]

Once again, I am shocked at the constant reference to this 10-year incestuous relationship as an "affair." The word implies consent. If it stopped when she was 19, it started when she was nine, and by definition, incapable of consent. She has also said that her father "shot her up" for the first time, and that the first incident happened when she was under the influence to the point of unconsciousness. And yet I keep reading the word "affair" over and over again. But I am most shocked to see it here, where writers and bloggers are supposed to be somewhat enlightened (well, maybe not all of them). The echo effect insures that this will continue -- by repetition, it's now the truth. This sickens me.

[cungar]

Try to keep up. It started when she was 19 and ended when he was 29.

[happymom]

Nice try. She was introduced to drugs at 11 by her father and a full blown addict by 15 or 16. Sounds like wonderful parenting.

Go spin your story somewhere else please and give her the compassion and empathy she deserves.

[GrainneKathleen]

the sexual molestation started well before she was 19. the abuse and the drugs paved the way for her to give up and give in to more abuse and drugs.

[Terry6202]

She hit the jackpot with this - more attention than she ever got in her life. And for recanting a moment which is a burden for others to hear and soils our mass media which is not the place.

[happymom]

No, sorry. Your perspective is a little skewed on this. By having the courage to come forward she has started a dialogue in our country that I hope will never end. We will now be discussing the grooming process, the classic response by family members to the initial revelations of incest, etc. THANK GOD for her courage, may other victims find hope and healing and may we all get the education on these issues we so desperately need as a country.

[BetteB]

"a burden for others to hear"? ":soils our mass media"? I'll be nice and just say, laughable and sad Terry6202, try a little love in your heart.
Love
Bette

[roshni]

No burden for me. I'm glad she is helping other abuse victims.

[wilray]

Does any one remember all the horrible stuff that La Toya Jackson said about Michael. At least she said it while he was alive. She insisted that he was a pedophile. I believe that she wound up recanting all that stuff. Now look what she says.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32790339/ns/entertainment-music/

[topkatnc]

Now the Jackson family are all in love again...I remember what she said and what about what Jermaine said when he was about to write a book...The Jackson family have MJ just were they want him , finally...­they can make more off of him dead than alive....I believe Mackenzie and I don't understand what Michelle's problem is....was she there , how does she know it did not happen ?

[wilray]

It's fine that you believe MacKenzie - just make certain that your reasons are well thought. During the stuff that happened with Michael Jackson, it was very hard not to reserve judgment. I was crushed because I am a big MJ Fan, so I tried to separate the man from music. My only definitive Judgment was that the parents of the children involved were creeps. Although, I like Michael I just thought it was improper for anyone to be so starstruck as to put their child in harms way. And I definitely thought the parents in the second allegations were beneath contempt. And quite frankly, I was upset with Michael, if he wasn't a criminal, he was an idiot. But if you pay attention to the Michael saga, a number of things unfold. After Michael died I read a complete account that was published after the first incident. Truthfully, although it seems completely bizarre I do believe that Michael Jackson was framed - twice. It's not wishful thinking, it's where logic leads me.

[wilray]

I am not going to jump on the MacKenzie Phillips bandwagon. But some of do not understand that I am not saying it didn't happen. But those of you who are jumping on the bandwagon are doing a grave disservice to incest and rape victims, if this turns out to be "A million little pieces." Another way to look at it is to reflect on Susan Smith. So many people took what she had to say hook, line, and sinker. But what's the situation today. It's practically reversed, if a mother says that her kids were kidnapped or killed, she's now the prime suspect. If you just jump on the MacKenzie Phillips bandwagon and it breaks apart, other incest victims will be much less likely to come forth. And most of you will absolutely turn on MacKenzie. Ironically, my opinion of her won't change that much one way or the other. BTW, I am not a defender of John because he's not important to me. To use other terminology - I don't have a horse in this race.

[ChelleAgain]

I find it interesting that people who read her book are being treated like they're gullible from people who have not done nearly as much to understand the entire story.

I don't know 100% that it happened, but someone who keeps having doubt cast because of her drug habit sure managed to both speak and write convincingly about the events of her life -- for a junkie, I mean. And the events of her life consist of a lot of things people should be quick deny, if they could. The one thing being denied is the thing most likely to have been kept a secret.

If it turns out she's lying, I can live with being played a fool in the cause of compassion.

[topkatnc]

Thank you ...

[happymom]

Yes, thank you. well said.

[roshni]

Agree.

[DallasDon]

This is not a comment regarding this particular post wilray.

It's a personal note to you.......­. To acknowledge your contribution to these discussions.

I've been reading your posts for some time now and I've gotta say, sometimes you simply blow my mind. Struggling here, all the compliments that I want to type sound like total BS. So I'll spare you the flattery. Except to say keep it up, I'll be looking for your posts in the future. This connection you've got going, sharing wilray, is working.

[wilray]

Don I really appreciate that. Sometimes I told people, it's not like I wouldn't lie, I just find it a colossal waste. I can't remember lies; the truth I have a much easier time with. I did try to place a link to a Huffington post about a man who was imprisoned for 20 years for sexually molesting his two kids. Only it never happened. His two kids finally got him released. You got to wonder how could this happen and when you read the story it is heartbreaking. There is some stuff that has happened in my life that I doubt that I will write about here, but I do know what it's like to be lied about. I also know that people will lie about the most bizarre things, one of the worst is religion. I was totally unaware of some of the lies my ex said about me until her best friend contacted me. BTW, from reading you, I think you have a tale to tell. Actually, you can have my email, if you like. I just don't want it all over HuffPo. BTW, you're the first person at HuffPo I've told that, but I think you get me. My spirits were a little low. Thanks for the pick me up.

[happymom]

No, it DID happen and more people are stepping up to say what they remember. She is doing a great service to our country by bringing these issues front and center. I hope the pedophiles are freaking out right now, knowing so many more people are going to get the low down on the grooming process and how they suck our children in.

[wilray]

I read Robert Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land" about a million years ago, but one of the things that really struck me was the concept of a fair witness. Whenever I remember, I try to adopt it. I guess the brief version of what a fair witness means is to talk what you know.

http://www.freerepublic.com/~fairwitness/

[jazabelz]

Her two half-sisters are not corroborating her statements!

[happymom]

ooops---I think you meant to say her two half-sisters ARE corroborating her statements­...right?

[roshni]

Oh yes, they are. And so is Denny Doherty's daughter.

[MrsPeel]

Oh, dear, you're a Freeper?

wilra

[MrsPeel]

Take Two:

Oh, dear, you're a Freeper?

wilray, you DO have a dog in this race. You have a definitive point of view based on your experiences. Who doesn't? But with your experiences, it's disingenuous to think you aren't motivated in some way rby those experiences.

After all, you wrote sometime yesterday that you weren't going to pursue this anymore because the "rationale" you've tried to introduced into the conversation wasn't making a difference.

Why have you come back to this subject again and again since then?

Have you considered that you use your reliance on legal standards of evidence in this matter; your insistence on facts (as you see them); and your demands for rationality (as you see it) might be part of a defense mechanism you've had to use to cope with the things that have happened to you? Intellectualizing feelings and retreating to the left side of your brain is a common way of blunting difficult feelings.

If this is true, it would make sense that, for you, you don't feel the need to vent, and it would be irritating to you that others do.

[GoldStarMom]

It's entirely possible that no sexual relationship existed, but it's equally possible that one did. However, if her father actually DID get her addicted to drugs as a pre-teen, it's still physical and emotional abuse. The validity of this story can't be determined from the information that's currently available. But, if it causes even one child to speak up, in an effort to cause their own molestation to stop, then the story -- true or not -- has served a noble purpose. In either case, I hope she gets the counseling she needs to bring peace into her life.

[wilray]

I agree with you. That's why I mentioned in an earlier post Drew Barrymore and Anthony Kiedis. Drew was exposed to substances early on as was Anthony Kiedis. Anthony's father was a drug addict. Anthony was also introduced to sex at an early age. I believe he said that he was only about 12, when one of his father's girlfriends did him. However, I do think he considers that a good thing. Although, I don't really follow their careers that much, I do think Drew and Anthony are doing okay. I actually prefer to hear that they overcame these problems. It seems more inspirational. MacKenzie was arrested as recently as last year, and next year she's going on Celebrity rehab 3. Next year she'll be 50 years old. I gotta say that is much less inspirational. I do hope she finds herself.

[Gudmundsdottir]

For the little that I know, I still find it brave that she is coming out with this. No matter what her age. It takes longer for some, and let that be the inspiration for those who still, at an older age, are battling with their demons - or are on their way to (re)finding themselves.

[GoldStarMom]

It's entirely possible that no sexual relationship existed, but it's equally possible that one did. However, if her father actually DID get her addicted to drugs as a pre-teen, it's still physical and emotional abuse. The validity of her story can't accurately be determined from the little bit of information that's currently available.

But, if it causes even one child to speak up, in an effort to cause their own molestation to stop, then the story -- true or not -- has served a noble purpose.

True or false, I hope she gets the counseling she needs to bring peace into her life.

[MrsPeel]

I agree about the lack of info.

I think folks should read her book before commenting further.

[DixieMelody]

That still gives you only her side of the story, her memories through a mind clouded with decades of drug use, and her vested interest in making the book as salacious as possible to find a publisher.

[BetteB]

This is a topic, incest, that needs to be talked about. Making it such a taboo to talk about just keeps the reason many family gatherings are so uncomfortable from coming out into light. Family has the most opportunity to abuse each other, this is probably more common than we care to admit, and results in a bunch of us navigating through life feeling the effects of thinking ourselves the odd human out, when so many of us have either abused or been abused, or both. Those with neither in their personal life might be odd human out in reality. It isn't always a bad dad either, there are bad brothers, uncles, and friends of the family too, mostly men or boys. Sometimes all of them, it's a jungle in there (home) for many of us. Let's talk about it, it is time.
Love
Bette

[ChelseaC]

I agree Bette.

I wish the very best for Mackenzie.

[BetteB]

Me too ChelseaC, I'm sure her and I would find a lot to talk about, even though my father wasn't a star, he was suppose to be one to me.
Love
Bette

[teachnotpreach]

I find it upsetting that his former wife Michelle doesn't believe her. John Phillips started seeing Michelle when she was 16 years old and he was an older man, leaving his first wife for her. her young age might raise flags about his sexual choices given McKenzie's claims.

[MrsPeel]

Yes. And that first wi.fe was Mackenzie's mother. He had four w.ives.

Michelle is on hub-by #5.

[J-Rome]

How do we know that McKenzie hasn't fabricated this story for purposes of selling her book? How does one square the fact that she accuses her father of abuse and at the same time wants to defend him?

[TurgidCaterwauling]

.......mos­tly men or boys?

If it is time to talk about this issue, fairness would suggest a conversation that addresses predators of both sexes, regardless of the disparity in numbers.

[happymom]

Agreed. So lets dialogue. I don't care if we talk about boys, girls, men or women, but let the dialogue commence and continue. This is one of the best kept secrets in the country and McKenzie's story is a birds-eye-view of what happens in families when someone comes forward to share the "dirty little secrets."

It's time to talk, talk, talk! And may the pedophiles squirm!!

[BetteB]

It is mostly males, but yes there are female sexual predators in families too, I concur.
Love
Bette

[blessedtoes]

I think what is important - based on a value system aimed at peace and loving, mind you - is to stop and imagine what it must be like inside yourself when the only options you feel you have to a) heal, and/or b) create income are to write about this kind of experience and then do a media tour about it. I don't see any cause for hating on her, hating on victims, hating on victim-bla­mers... We have an opportunity to feel compassion for her and send her our Loving and Light.

[happymom]

Well said.