During a recent episode of Valerie Bertinelli’s podcast “Get Naked,” actress and singer Mackenzie Phillips disclosed a newly received letter that she says corroborates her long‑standing claims of abuse by her late father, John Phillips, the founding member of The Mamas & The Papas.
Letter adds alleged proof
Phillips explained that the letter arrived while she was working at the Breathe Life Healing Center. She described the surprise of receiving what she called “one of the most credible sources you could ever know of—a family friend” who wrote that their husband witnessed something horrific when she was nine years old.
She told Bertinelli that she shared the letter with her brother Jeffrey, who reportedly responded, “I don’t want to know.” Phillips said the reaction left her feeling isolated once again, despite finally having what she believes is documented proof.
Background of the allegations
In her 2009 memoir “High on Arrival,” Phillips alleged that her father raped her when she was 19. She wrote that she woke up after a blackout to find herself having sex with her father, though she could not recall how it began or ended. The memoir later described the relationship as consensual for a ten‑year period before she became pregnant and subsequently had an abortion.
Phillips now says she has re‑examined those statements, noting that “there is no such thing as consent between a parent and a child” because of the overwhelming power differential. She added that her earlier description of the relationship as consensual was an attempt to protect her father’s legacy.
Family reaction and public response
The revelation has again divided the Phillips family. Half‑sister Chynna Phillips publicly supported Mackenzie for speaking out, while other family members have remained silent. John Phillips died in 2001 at age 65 from heart failure, years before the memoir was published.
John Phillips, known as “Papa John,” helped shape the 1960s California folk‑rock sound as a principal songwriter and arranger for The Mamas & The Papas, contributing hits such as “California Dreamin’,” “Monday, Monday,” and “I Saw Her Again.”
What’s next?
Phillips said the letter has given her renewed resolve to pursue the truth and to encourage other survivors to come forward. She hopes the new evidence will help her heal and bring greater awareness to the challenges faced by victims of familial abuse.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
