FAMILY DEFENDS MACKENZIE PHILLIPS INCEST

Mackenzie Phillips

Chynna Phillips is speaking out in defence of her stepsister Mackenzie, following her allegations that she had a decade-long sexual relationship with their father, Mamas And The Papas founder John Phillips. While her mother Michelle and stepsister Bijou are disputing Mackenzie's shocking claims and criticized her for going public with the families 'secret' in a new memoir and on television show Oprah Winfrey earlier this week, former Wilson Phillips star Chynna is applauding Mackenzie for having the guts to speak out. She just wishes the scandal hadn’t become so public, so quickly. Appearing on Oprah today, she said she watched Wednesday’s show with trepidation: "I was praying for her (Mackenzie) the whole time because it’s a very, very taboo (subject). Many people were repulsed, many people were horrified at the allegations. "I’m proud of my sister. Am I exceedingly joyful that my family secret that I told, maybe, my therapist, my husband and my very best friend in the world (is out)? No… it’s very upsetting." And Chynna revealed she believes her sister did have a sick romance with their father: "I’ve known for a long time… I do know there was a consensual relationship between my father and my sister that lasted for 10 years." She still recalls the moment her stepsister told her the ugly truth during a tense phone chat 12 years ago: "You could have dropped a piano on my head and I wouldn’t have felt it. I was completely stunned, shocked, I walked around in a comatose state for about 10 days. I believed her." And Chynna can understand why her mother, Michelle Phillips, is so upset with Mackenzie’s big reveal: "I think my mom is angry, and I love my mother very, very much and she loves Mackenzie… I think that the most devastating thing is that when people are in denial and don’t want to look at things, and especially don’t want things on a public platform… It’s not something that my mom wants plastered all over the papers. "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." Speaking via satellite, Mackenzie told her stepsister, "I’m really sorry… to put you in this position… but I don’t regret writing the book because I really think it’s gonna be a great help for a lot of people and it’s gonna help me." Meanwhile Mackenzie's shocking charges that she had a 10-year sexual relationship with her father have taken a new turn, His Mamas And The Papas co-founder knew all about the sick romance. Late rock star Denny Doherty revealed all about his bandmate John Phillips sexual exploits to his daughter Jessica Woods, who watched Mackenzie on Oprah's show in and felt compelled to back up her story. She has written to Oprah Winfrey, explaining her father knew all about the twisted romance all along. She wrote, "I just watched the show with Mackenzie Phillips (and) tears are running down my face. Everything she said is true. My dad told me the awful truth. He was horrified at what John had done and knew all of it." Mackenzie says, "I’m very grateful to Jessica. I never knew she knew… I don’t know how Denny Doherty knew about the relationship."
Photos By: Sara De Boer/Retna