For years, Mackenzie Phillips has been held on the outside of the acting world that initially brought her to America. This was because the former One Day at a Time star was a junkie, and a drug addict. She is far from the first or only child star to fall into the trap of getting fame too quickly, or not handling their fame easily. This drug addiction by all accounts got her fired from One Day at a Time, and eventually sent her spiraling as drugs so often do. Now, she is here in front of the world with a book.
Celebrities and books are about as common as changing your underwear, but Mackenzie Phillips’ book is different in a big way. In it, she bombs her famous father John Phillips and claims that the two had sexual relationship for close to ten years. The claims of incest have caused a huge explosion in the family with some taking sides. Mackenzie has taken quite well to the talk show circuit and is promoting the book like a wild woman. Some feel that she is a hero because of bringing incest issues to light, and others think this is just yet another sad chapter in the life of the former child star.
John Phillips died a few years back and so can not defend himself against such accusations. This is one of the reasons that the claims have been called into question. Another reason is because of Mackenzie Phillips history. As early as 2008, Phillips has been arrested and convicted of cocaine possession among other crimes. Her drug use is admitted, and she now claims that she is clean. These claims of being clean are not the first ones from Phillips. There is good reason to doubt them.
The one thing that puzzles me about this situation is the book. I am all for a person writing a book to help others. I am also all for people writing a book that makes them money. The problems begin when you combine the two things, and then completely torch another person’s legacy and life in the process to do so. Even if John Phillips is guilty as sin, it seems that Mackenzie could have found better ways to work through these problems. Writing a book is not going to help her heal in and of itself. Getting into therapy would be a much better start if she has not already done so.
Giving a voice to incest victims is a noble thought, but it seems way to rehearsed to me. First she is convicted of felony drug charges in 08, then suddenly here in 09 she appears with a book that is meant to heal part of mankind? A miracle turnaround is certainly a possibility, but why begin that turnaround exploiting her family? Why not get clean and stay that way for several years before trying to draw on memories this important through a drugged out haze? A person who has been a drug addict for thirty years is not going to have a clear recollection of all the facts in the best of situations, but they would especially have problems during that first year.
It is a horrible thing that Mackenzie Phillips went through such a tough childhood. The poor girl was set up to fail before she ever had a real chance. Hopefully, she will get the help she needs to remain clean and claim this later portion of her life for her own.
There’s so much that’s flawed in your thought processes regarding this that I don’t even know where to start. You seem to be saying that people with drug problems are incapable of helping people, then claiming that Mackenzie “exploited her family” and “torched” her father’s legacy by speaking out, and finally end up questioning someone’s ability to recall sexual abuse (over a 10 year period) because of drug use.
Forgive me if I’m misunderstanding your message, but it seems like very warped logic.
It seems to me Mackenzie is the one who was exploited. If that tarnishes the image of John, so be it. That isn’t her fault. And going public with what sounds like a truly horrifying secret kept for years is one of the most healing things she could do.
Finally, given that two of her sisters and Denny’s daughter have all stepped forward to say they knew of this, it takes a real stretch of credulity to leave much doubt. Not that there was much doubt in my mind anyway. Opening up about abuse is one of the hardest things imaginable and not something many would choose to do, much less fabricate. How much harder it must be for those who are famous.
Comment by Steve — September 25, 2009 @ 7:38 pm