Mackenzie Phillips: I slept with my own father....- Page 4

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 12:02am

Yes. An orgasm is an involuntary reaction.
Exactly. [looking back, I realized my opinion wasn't really clear in my post.]

I thought that there was a similar situation with Tatum O'Neil and her father and sexuality, but I think I was misremembering. Namo, I hadn't read your comment that PRS quoted, but I do have to agree with you. Like I said, this story is definitely on shaky ground, and it's very difficult to ignore a knee jerk reaction and be objective. You're much better at it than I am.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 12:08am

I dvr'd the Whitney and we watched it a few days later. I dvr'd this one too.

I'll watch it this weekend.

Updated On: 9/24/09 at 12:08 AM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 12:22am

Oh, okay!

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 10:02am

This article doesn't do much to dissuade my opinion that she's telling the truth. It sounds like she told Michelle and then freaked and called back to say she was only kidding. It also sounds like her next stepmother suspected something because of the closeness of Mackenzie and her father.
Phillips' stepmothers deny allegations of incest

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 11:00am

It is all over the morning news and entertainment shows this morning. I am over it.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 11:05am

In addition, I think if her stepmother(s) were to come out and say "yes we believe her" it implicates them as well. Did they suspect something inappropriate was going on but turned a blind eye? Was it easy for them to ignore because of their own drug use? I've started the book and it's clear that Michelle Phillips was doing drugs in front of her at a very young age.

Anyone else think Oprah came off a little judgmental during the interview? I found it odd, because just last week she was practically kissing Whitney Houston's feet.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 11:27am

This is a tough issue for Oprah. There's a history of child abuse in her family too. And she does NOT like for people to bring it up.

Updated On: 9/24/09 at 11:27 AM

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 11:55am

she's defending her father in US weekly


My Father is Not a Bad Man

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 12:00pm

She makes that clear in the book, which I read most of last night. It's not an attack on him. It's much more complicated.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 12:04pm

In the late 70s/early 80s, John and Genevieve Phillips rented a house just down the street from my family in CT. (Bijou was born during this time).

I was away for part of the year in college, but the months I was home, I was aware that the house was the scene of a 24 hour a day party. Even with a newborn. They were sometimes 'neighborly', but mostly kept to their own world within the house, with people coming and going at all hours. It was a rather disturbing scene, to be honest. I was all about a good party, but this was something much darker. And much more abusive.

When they left the house, the owners had to practically strip it and rebuild it before they could rent it again. The toilets were clogged with drug paraphernelia, and there were hypodermic needles stuffed behind the wallpaper in all of the rooms. The place was completely trashed.

I remember trying to separate the man from the music back then. But I always knew that it would remain forever in my mind.

I have mixed feelings about all of this. I am not interested in reading her book. I mostly want her to get the help I think she needs. And for the family to heal. It's been a legacy of abuse and addiction and bad times in the spotlight.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 12:05pm

WTF is her brother talking about in that article?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 2:29pm

"My family is and always will be a decrepit bowl of dog urine compared to Nityananda of Ganeshpuri," Tamerlane told the New York Post. "That is how great Nityananda is." The Indian yogi died in 1961. "Worship Nityananda, not the Phillips family. Nityananda can protect you."

His use of "dog urine" is surprising and unfortunate, like Michelle's expletives. But their language speaks to the degree of dysfunction in John's world, as does Addy's memories of their house.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 3:47pm

Having seen Mackenzie's interview with Meredith Viera on The Today Show, I am really moved. I think Mackenzie demonstrated depth, a great understanding of dynsfunction and abuse (which she clearly learned during her recovery), and an honest spirit. As a person she emanates so much openess and humility, I was impressed.

I was truly impacted by her correction of Meredith whenever Meredith would simplify or sensationalize Mackenzie's story. Mackenzie is clearly devoted to the accuracy of her life story, the quest for truth and less shame for others in the same situation, and she rejects blaming others for her life. She is aware that some will applaud her, other shun her, but all she wants is the story told.

I wish her closure, happiness, and healing.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 3:49pm

Wow, Addy. That is disturbing.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 5:56pm

I saw her giving the interview on two shows. She does say that her father was not bad.

I'm trying to see it that way. Really, I've given it thought, but I can't help it-I think a man that has sex with his daughter, and for such an extended period of time, is bad.

It's not like it happened once while under some influence.

I didn't read the book. This is just my thinking from her interviews.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 7:08pm

I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the whole thing. I mean, I realize they were totally drugged up, but still.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 7:53am

The difference between this revelation and Whitney's appearances reveal a lot about our biases toward celebrity redemption.

Whitney has "the voice" -- which everyone wants to return, to soar, to sell records. Michelle is a pock-marked, plain, minimally talented woman whose degrading revelations offer no public participation. Not in her talent, anyway -- which is what we want to own, to haved a part of. We cannot "support" her by buying HER CD. A book is a written account of secrets; no matter the quality of the writing, or the honesty, it's not offered up as entertainment.

We the redemption-addicted public "need" to have our diva Whitney back where we left her, but this bruised and damaged goods that are Phillips just remind us of the lowest behavior in the celebrity culture. It's no accident that Oprah wept and kissed the well-heeled Houston feet and was cooler and more reserved -- and thus professional -- with Phillips.

But irony is, Oprah was far, far better at doing her job with Phillips. She was the Oprah we used to depend on. If anyone doubts the differences, watch the way Whitney discusses her drugs use, and watch Phillips. The twinkle in Houston's eyes is a kind of wink -- "I'm still cool, y'all." Phillips, for all of her slips and decline, has the haunted look of someone who's looked into the abyss and found only death.

Both are probably as likely to slip again; Houston is the one we root for, because it's so much easier -- we get something in return.

Updated On: 9/25/09 at 07:53 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 8:47am

I don't see it quite that way ^ . I think Whitney's were far less "heinous" crimes in the eyes of society than McKenzie's, and thus easier to swallow (no pun).

I could be in the minority, but what both women contribute/contributed to the world of show business doesn't enter into the equation as far as who is more forgiven than the other, as you mentioned via buying a CD from "the voice" as opposed to a pock-marked plain woman with minimal talent. That could be the case with most people who watch Oprah, but it didn't occur to me. I treated them as two stories from two different women, no matter who they are.

Just sayin.

Updated On: 9/25/09 at 08:47 AM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 8:55am

While not the direct topic, I am fascinated by Auggie's comments on Oprah's work.

I haven't been a fan of Oprah's for quite a while - for some of the very reasons Auggie outlined.

She's built an empire, but, I don't believe she actually does a very good job...

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 9:28am

Most empire builders end up not doing a very good job.

I too love Auggie's analysis. I have to say, I thought Mackenzie did have some natural talent back on the One Day at a Time series. Those "live before a studio audience" shows were could really give you a taste at what the actors could really do.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 9:29am

I couldn't agree more, Addy. The more powerful she got and the more famous friends she collected, the more her show went downhill. If a celebrity is on Oprah, one can guarantee they will get a first rate ass kissing. Her fans adore her and hang on her every word so she has no reason to change formats. She could publicly say William Hung has the best CD of the year and it would be flying off shelves in a matter of minutes. Very odd and sad.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 9:31am

The day I saw Oprah tell Ron Howard and the cast of Backdraft their movie was "the greatest thing I've ever seen" something switched off in my brain about her. And it never switched on again.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 9:48am

Years ago I was at an advertising industry party on the Jersey Shore at the home of one of the King brothers - who, at the time, ran Kingworld, which managed all of the advertising for the Oprah show.

It was a lavish party, complete with fireworks set off over the beach. We were all 'industry insiders' so it was a celeb-filled event, but not a big deal to have all of these people around.

Except for Oprah. When time came for the fireworks I saw people literally jump up and offer her their seat. I saw people gush and fall all over themselves making sure she had a drink or something to eat. This was other GUESTS... not people hired to cater and bartend! And she walked around like she was Queen of the world.

I remember having such a negative reaction to it. She actually sat on a beach chair in the sand right in front of me during the fireworks. And I inadvertently kicked a bit of sand on her back as I got up to leave. Just a little. Oops.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 9:59am

At the Tonys a few years ago, Sara Ramirez and TR Knight were interviewed on the red carpet and were giggling because Oprah was there. Sara admitted to snapping pictures of her with her cell phone. Her popularity is astounding.

[mominator]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 9:59am

"And I inadvertently kicked a bit of sand on her back as I got up to leave. Just a little. Oops."

Addy, that is so awesome!