Singer/songwriter Chynna Phillips has spoken out in defence of her stepsister Mackenzie following her revelations she had a decade-long sexual relationship with their father, Mamas and the Papas founder John.
While her mother Michelle and stepsister Bijou have disputed the actress' shocking claims and criticised her for going public with the family 'secret' in a new memoir and on TV show Oprah earlier this week, former Wilson Phillips star Chynna is applauding Mackenzie for having the nerve to speak out.
She just wishes the scandal hadn't become so public, so quickly.
Appearing on Oprah on Friday, she said she watched Wednesday's show with trepidation: "I was praying for her 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 the Hold On singer 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."
