9/24/2009

Blakely Slater

Mackenzie Phillips wants to clear up the inferences that the media made from yesterday's revelation.

Yesterday, Mackenzie Phillips set off a storm of outrage and disgust with her revelation that she and her father, John Phillips, had a sexual relationship, but today she tried to clear up her intentions and save her father from being called a monster.  
  
The story gleaned from Phillips' interview with Oprah was one of drugs, rape, and hurt. When she spoke with TODAY's Meredith Vieira, however, it seemed as if she wanted to present a truth that was not as horrific. While she still spoke of being molested and later having consenual sex with her father, she insisted that the relationship should not be referred to as "a ten year affair," as many headlines have posted.  
  
Philips clarified to Vieira that "at 18 I was molested, then maybe three years later, I started waking up with my pants down around my ankles. And then maybe two years after that, it became consensual." She wanted to make it obvious that this was not the regular affair that the media has been proclaiming it to be.  
  
Perhaps even more shocking is that Phillips has an attitude of protectiveness when it comes to her father. She even went so far as to appeal to viewers to still appreciate his talent, saying "if anyone out there can possibly separate his body of work form his personal demons, that would be the honorable thing to do."  
  
Despite these attempts to lessen the harshness of the words she has spoken and the claims she has made, many members of her family are still outraged with her choice to go public.  
  
Michelle Phillips, Mackenzie's stepmother, has gone so far as to completely discredit her stepdaughter, insisting that these are fabricated tales. On the other hand, her sister, Chynna, is showing support based on her belief that it would not even be possible for someone to invent a story so awful.  
  
For Phillips, the indignation of family and revulsion of the public were not enough to stop her from going public, which she thought of as an important step in reaching out to others who have suffered similar abuses. She hopes that her bravery in giving a full view of her private life will bring her success as an advocate for preventing incestuous relationships.  
  
So far it has worked. Phillips noted to Vieira, "since the publication of this book yesterday, the outpouring of support from other incest survivors has been phenomenal."