Chynna Phillips Tells Mackenzie to ‘Get the Lord on Board’
On Wednesday’s episode of The Oprah Show, Mackenzie Phillips, daughter of The Mamas & The Papas front man John Phillips, unveiled a secret she’s kept hidden from the public for decades: she was involved in a consensual sexual relationship with her father for over 10 years. The actress, who made her film debut in “American Graffiti” at the age of 12, details this relationship and her battle to overcome drug addiction in her new book High on Arrival.
Steeped in the aftermath of Wednesday’s show, Mackenzie reappeared on the The Oprah Show via satellite from New York to discuss the public fallout from her allegations. Following the show, Mackenzie claims hundreds of friends have come forward on Facebook sharing their own stories of incest and applauding her for speaking her truth. Not everyone is happy, however, about the release of this private information. Michelle Phillips, stepmother to Mackenzie who is the last living original member of The Mamas & The Papas, adamantly denied the allegations to reporters and called Mackenzie mentally ill.
On Friday, Oprah sat down with Mackenzie’s sister Chynna Phillips, to see how she feels about the news and how her perspective is being shaped by her faith in God. Before a live studio audience, Chynna told Oprah,
Who among us has not done something that we are highly ashamed of in our lives? All of us have. So who’s going to cast the first stone? [...] In my faith, as a Christian, God has told me that I need to forgive,” she says. “I need to forgive and not return an eye for an eye. Am I happy that Mackenzie has put me in this position that now here I am having to discuss all these things? No, I’m not. But at the same time, I have to forgive. It’s a lifelong process. I’m not going to digest this information [overnight]. It’s 13 years later, and I still haven’t.
I think Mackenzie’s on a healing path as well. I wouldn’t say that we’re polar opposites. I mean, we have two different stories. But Mackenzie’s on a very healing path and I’m hoping she’ll take everything out of this book and really go out there and try help to people who have similar experiences. I’m a Christian. I am singing for Jesus now. I’m truckin’ for Jesus. And you know, if I had one piece of advice for my sister it would be, get the Lord on board, ’cause you’re gonna need it.
Later in the show, Oprah asked Mackenzie what she thought of Chynna’s advice to get God on her side. She responded saying, “Well, first of all, God is on all of our sides’–even dad’s. ‘Forgiveness is mine,’ saith the Lord. Isn’t that it?”
Chynna is currently a singer-songwriter serving as one half of the Christian music group Chynna & Vaughan. The duo just released the album One Reason on Tuesday. For more information, please visit the official site for Chynna & Vaughan.
One Reason by Chynna & Vaughan, in stores now
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