Mackenzie Phillips "Uninvited" to Thanksgiving with Her Family
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Mackenzie Phillips won't be eating turkey and stuffing with her family this year.
"I've been uninvited to the family Thanksgiving," the actress tells Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell. In September, Phillips, 50, published her memoirs High on Arrival -- in which she claimed to have had a long-term incestuous relationship with her father, the late Mamas and Papas musician John Phillips.
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That shocking book's release and related media appearances by Mackenzie have sparked uncomfortable tensions within the family, she says. "I can't make them come back," she tells O'Dell. "They have to come back on their own."
Among those angriest at Phillips is her stepmother Michelle Phillips, who has said that the incest accusations "should have been made while John was alive."
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The One Day at a Time star says that half-sister Chynna will miss her at the Thanksgiving table. "It pains Chynna that I won't be able to be there with them," she says.
Read from Chynna's exclusive interview with Us Weekly on the scandal
During a joint appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show in September, Chynna Phillips admitted that she would have liked "a little family conference" prior to the publication of the book. "So that we can talk about what feels safe for you, what doesn't feel safe for you. But you know what? That may have not have been realistic in our family. That may not have worked."
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Things are icier between Mackenzie and half-sister Bijou. "I have made attempts [to talk to her]," Phillips tells O'Dell. "She just says, 'I want nothing to do with you.'"
Despite being excluded from the gathering this year, Phillips says she holds no ill will. "It's OK, it's OK...I love Michelle."
Tell Us What You Think
75I just finishes reading a copy of Mackenzie Phillips book. As a teenager, I listened to the Mama's & Pappa's Band as did just about everyone in my generation. I want to thank Mack for comming clean with her memoir. I personally think she was very brave. Also she too must be very tough to have survived all she went though growing up! Wow, most of our lives are pale in comparison. Hey Mackenzie, hang in there. I can certainly say you deserve to be happy, and I know your son is very proud of his mother. I can identify a little with your experiences, and I too am grateful to be a sober lady who has been there and back. Live for the music......
As a survivor myself of abuse who now counsels other victims, I wish to state that I do believe MacKenzie. It's very unfortunate that she had no one she could go to at the time. She's being blamed for having a drug problem when it was her "parent(s)" who forced the first drugs down her throat when she was just a child. Sexual abuse perpetrators have numerous ways of silencing their victims and often are able to exploit their victim's fear & confusion by telling them they "enjoyed" the sexual contact. The fact is the nerves in the body react to certain stimuli, whether it is wanted or not. John Phillips was a great musician, but a horrible father and a very disturbed person. There should have been resources for him. MacKenzie, as you've been told, you were an innocent victim. The fault in any kind of abuse always, always, always lies with the perpetrator. Your family has a chance to show compassion for all sexual abuse victims which includes the perpetrators who demonstrate, by their actions that they are mixed up and miserable. You all have a chance to turn this negative into a positive and encourage more confidential treatment options for sexual predators to stop this ugliness before it starts. Wishing you comfort and peace, MacKenzie. A Family Advocate.
The truth needed to be told. It was horribly wrong and I have NO doubt that man fed his own baby girl drugs and then proceeded to manipulate and take advantage of her. Mackenzie's mistake was in taking money to tell her story. I have no doubt it took place, but forevermore, people will say it was all about the money. We all need to wake up. Sexual abuse is a tragedy that takes a permanent toll on all involved. We need to keep abusers in jail and those who can speak out against their abusers must do so, hopefully, while they are still alive to suffer for their sins. The chain must be broken. Willing or not, the lines were crossed and you cannot make her the guilty party. Good for you Chynna, defend what you know is right. Michelle, it is ugly, but be thankful it wasn't your daughter.
WHY IS THE VICTIM THE ONE WHO GETS BLAMED WHEN THEY SPEAK UP??? WHY IS THE VICTIM HORRIBLE BY SPEAKING THE TRUTH?--->>>> YOU MISERABLE HATEFUL PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCUSING MACKENZIE OF LYING, WHY???????? """"WHY WOULD ANYONE SAY SUCH A HORRENDOUS THING????""""" ((((((((PLEASE PEOPLE STOP COMMENTING WITH HATE AND CONTEMPT ON SOMETHING YOU HAVE NO INSIGHT ON))))))) STOP BLAMING A VICTIM FOR SPEAKING UP!!!!!
WHY IS THE VICTIM THE ONE WHO GETS BLAMED WHEN THEY SPEAK UP??? WHY IS THE VICTIM HORRIBLE BY SPEAKING THE TRUTH?--->>>> YOU MISERABLE HATEFUL PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCUSING MACKENZIE OF LYING, WHY???????? """"WHY WOULD ANYONE SAY SUCH A HORRENDOUS THING????""""" ((((((((PLEASE PEOPLE STOP COMMENTING WITH HATE AND CONTEMPT ON SOMETHING YOU HAVE NO INSIGHT ON))))))) STOP BLAMING A VICTIM FOR SPEAKING UP!!!!!
WHY IS THE VICTIM THE ONE WHO GETS BLAMED WHEN THEY SPEAK UP??? WHY IS THE VICTIM HORRIBLE BY SPEAKING THE TRUTH?--->>>> YOU MISERABLE HATEFUL PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCUSING MACKENZIE OF LYING, WHY???????? """"WHY WOULD ANYONE SAY SUCH A HORRENDOUS THING????""""" ((((((((PLEASE PEOPLE STOP COMMENTING WITH HATE AND CONTEMPT ON SOMETHING YOU HAVE NO INSIGHT ON))))))) STOP BLAMING A VICTIM FOR SPEAKING UP!!!!!
Mackenzie was not abused. She wanted her father on top of her and she willingly had sex with her father as an adult. She told Larry King she enjoyed it. She's been in drug rehab at least 9 times and was arrested last year for crack. She SOLD her father's legacy for money - not to "help" others. Who would she be helping? How many adult women want their father on top of them?
It takes courage to tell the truth-this is something most people do not want to dispell-but as I know from being molested and raped-the longer you keep it a secret the sicker you get--It is great she took a stand-Michelle was having an affair with her dad. Not sure where she has room to judge-
I love the illeterate people on here who have no spelling and /or grammar etiquette!
This is a sad story about her life but we all live and learn. Sometimes in order to heal, you have to put yourself out there. She is just trying to find herself. But if you think about it, its no different than when it happens in your home town and its all over the news. Think about it.
My fiance's now 32 year old daughter suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her step-father as a child. Her mother never believed her and prevented her father from ever seeing her. They now have a relationship, thankfully. I myself had a step father who behaved inapproprately with me. Why in the hell would Mackenzie make this stuff up if it weren't true? Those of you condemning her need to get your heads out of your A**es and wake up. It happens more often than any of you think. Courage, Mac.
I don't know whether the story is true or not, but if I were in her family, I'd be upset too. She doesn't need to write about the family's dirty laundry in order to heal. She should do that privately.
dead men tell no tales....funny how its all coming out now that he's dead...very suspect
And if she loves Michelle, why would she sleep with her husband (and her dad) for 10 years? Sick! Does she expect Michelle to love her?
MacKensie was not a CHILD or a VICTIM. She was way too old for that and could have done many things to stop it if she had wanted to. What shame she has brougt upon herself and her family to share such disgusting information with the world. She seems like a very disturbed and sick person who desperately needs some help.
Mackenzie lived thru a disgusting atrocity that was her life. Drugs via her father -- the hard stuff like cocaine and heroine at a young age. He was her father and was supposed to protect her, love her, guide her and always be there for her. She was only 18 when it started and he was much older and able to manipulate her and the situation. Do you have any idea how important it is for a little girl to have the love and respect from her father -- impress him -- all in an attempt to just be love. Her father abused that relationship and MacKenzie didn't make the best choices, but she was the CHILD and didn't have the sophistication of a middle-aged adult male. I think her book and story has helped scare the crap out of some 'dads' and 'uncles' that their secret may come out too. Kids don't stay silent these days about these things and that's a good thing. MacKenzie didn't invent incest, she's just brought it out in the open, and in the process, she's made it a topic that needs to be discussed -- and things that go on now in some families that is WRONG! Maybe Mac's story will help some older daughter in a family say "NO" and not be afraid that if she doesn't put out for her father.uncle;grandfather;brother, etc... they won't go to her younger sisters. Men have to get the message LOUD and CLEAR that younger female (and male) relatives are OFF-LIMITS and that they will eventually be found out -- and hopefully named and shamed. Good Job MacKenzie! My offer for Christmas in Boston still stands! :>)
MacKenzie needed to write about her experiences because this is a subject that is still taboo and swept under the rug by many families. Even years later, when a daughter confronts her father about what he did to her, the mother and the rest in the family don't believe that it is true. Happens more than people want to admit. MacKenzie is quite brave to put all this out there for people to make such horrible comments. Parents need to know they can't do this to their children and children need to know that they shouldn't be afraid to expose their pedophile parent(s).
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If he were alive he would deny..so what is the difference. It would just call her a liar. I believe her.
Mackenzie's been in rehab 10 times for her drug addiction. She was arrested LAST YEAR for crack, for God's sake. She's broke. She has a motive for selling her father's legacy. Mackenzie's book about her willingly affair with DADDY as an adult would NEVER BE TOLD for free. She is SELLING this juicy gossip for MONEY. PROLLY to buy drugs. Why WOULD Michelle Phillips have Mack in her house????