The Tragic Downfall Of Mama Cass

Explore the captivating tale of Cass Elliot, the soulful force behind the Mamas & the Papas. Her struggle with weight and self-acceptance offers a poignant glimpse into the highs and lows of fame, ultimately shaping her tragic downfall.
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[@Factinate]

What's your favorite The Mamas & the Papas song? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

[@charlesdavis545]

#californiadreaming

[@maxinesymmons9711]

Spanish harlem 🌹 Dream a little dream

[@dumfriesspearhead7398]

California Dreaming.

[@karenroot450]

California Dreaming

[@wolfmantiptip6218]

I Saw Her Again ........

[@carolebrandt9023]

Without Mama Cass the band would have never made it! How cruel and cold they were towards her. She had an absolutely amazing voice.

[@user-oz4oy1kb3r]

How Perfectly And Eloquently.Stated ! She Was Beautiful !🌿

[@SassyyjuicyMaria]

Thanks heavens she left them all behind

[@user-oz4oy1kb3r]

@@SassyyjuicyMaria Lost my more detailed comment. Yes ! And she left them in the dust at a crucial moment. She was so kind she would not have wished that on them but I hope she realized how valuable she was in not being there at the induction to The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I really love it that they bombed without her ! 🌿

[@katherinesullivan3826]

I totally agree 😁

[@judithryle2113]

Cass made that band

[@jamie-redfern]

Cass was my friend and like a big sister to me when I was a boy. We got on so well that I went on to name one of my daughters after her. She was one of the finest singers in history, and such a beautiful soul.

[@garyneilson3075]

Thanks for sharingc, such a cool memory of her!

[@gillian1302]

Thank You so much for that❤ that is a much more fitting legacy for a wonderful lady who will always be remembered for her beautiful voice..God bless you and your family. R.I.P. Cass 🕊🕊🕊you beautiful soul🕊🕊🕊

[@beverlygoddard4307]

I have a friend who looks like her who was large but lost weight. So she doesn't look as much like Cass. Grew up in the 60s

[@erinharper9908]

Thank you for sharing. Means more than you'll ever know. I'm sure.

[@angelicamariasomoza7376]

Wow! What an honor to know such a beautiful soul

[@karenbaldry8096]

I feel so sad to hear how horrible these people treated this poor lady. Her voice was absolutely beautiful. 😢

[@ashleywilson9205]

Totally agree

[@DougieFootball]

Yes, it's terrible. Unfortunately, she was born and performing in the Era of television. In the earlier days, Kate Smith was the most famous American singer, and her rendition of God Bless America made her famous. Yet, if Kate Smith had been performing in the Era of television., she probably never would have become famous. It's even worse now. Name one famous female singer who isn't attractive and sexy. With computer technology, you don't even have to be able to carry a tune now. They can even auto tune live performances. I doubt there will be another famous Kate Smith or Cass Elliott.

[@Suzy1959]

Amen! Us big Lady's are still Human Being's. ❤️ 💙 💜 💖 💗 ❤️

[@DougieFootball]

@Suzy1959 Not only that, but of you notice, many opera singers are on the bigger side; they have larger chest cavities, and use this advantage to sing in a higher or lower octave and nailing the note without screaming it. Also, this is why if you put a really good countertenor like Jarrousky against female sopranos, he sounds better. Larger chest cavity. Before music and art were purely about sex, light shows, how hot the band was, it was actually about art and music! Can you imagine such a thing? Look at Itzhak Pehrlman. Arguably one of the best musicians in his generation., yet he had polio, needs a cane, ( and hot he's not), but his talent is stellar Imagine if an orchestra said to him, " Sorry, the audience is going to be young, so we're going to need a light shows, some explosions, and he's going to need to twerk, bump and grind while playing. So, we'll get someone hot, who can.at least make it look convincing, give him an instrument with a mic set up and ear phones and he can play along to to track. Can you imagine if everyone from Bach, Dowland, Purcell to DaVinci, Michelangelo were given no chances because they didn't fit the beauty standards of the day? It's getting to the point where EVERYTHING has to be able to trigger people sexually; aside from the fact that if you download music, you are usually listening and not always watching,. Although, to quote my father ( gone for many years now) even if you were totally interested in a person just for their sexiness, what will you do with the other 23 hours in a day? Well, you end up like Grant Amato, stealing almost 275k from his family and friends, just so he can sit and gaze at her for hours a night along with other guys and pretend she liked him Smh.

[@n2nanci]

John Phillips had no business saying anything about Cass Elliott. Creep. Shame on them for treating her badly.

[@georgiablue1130]

He slept with his own daughter.

[@jodyannefitapatrick]

Jealousy is never good

[@alicemonsell1352]

John Phillips rented a house for a while in my hometown in Jersey. Supposedly trashed it. A lot of drugs, and his daughter....So many possibilities that people just ruin through their own falts and meanness.

[@53mandevilla]

Got that right! He was the worst…an incestuous pedo! 😮😮😮

[@lettiee4726]

And thus, what is J Phillips eternal reward? Forgive him Father. L

[@yooperlooper]

Her voice and Karen Carpenter's were 2 of the most beautiful voices in all of the pop music business. I'm sorry she was so miss-treated

[@user-db9yd6vz9r]

Agree 💯

[@joycekellner9957]

Interesting you mention them together. Both has very unhealthy relationships with food. Karen Carpenter died of anorexia nervosa related heart disease.

[@yooperlooper]

Yes, you are right! I didn't think of it that way. Sad no matter how you look at it isn't it?!@@joycekellner9957

[@valeriekehrt7566]

I agree. Both should've had a better life. Sad.😢❤❤

[@johngore7744]

And Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez cheers from Montreal

[@timcarter7616]

Her voice was powerful and her pitch, perfect. RIP, Cass Elliot.

[@tassia1954]

Also she wrote the words and music herself!

[@wendythompson2830]

Loved her music and her. Rip 💔

[@robinsnest4306]

Still my favorite email singer.

[@burgundybabyy]

She did NOT take advantage of their situation. They took advantage of her and treated her awfully,

[@derrickhewitt6171]

That's kind of what I was thinking. She took advantage of the situation but they took advantage of her first and way more often.

[@gregensley2901]

Cass wore a button that simply said ” Be Friendly” and that was her true persona🌺

[@johnbove1557]

When my wife died we held a celebration of her life. One of the songs we played was Cass singing “Dream a Little Dream of Me”. It was a very moving moment. Not a dry eye to be seen. Thank you Cass Elliot. That song will forever remind me of that special moment and also of my beautiful wife of 44 years.

[@conniemorgan8402]

My favorite

[@robynmarsh1358]

❤

[@erinneill9350]

❤

[@SusanPederson]

My late husband & I used to sing this song together....❤

[@garyneilson3075]

"hold fast" (1Thess.5 :21)!

[@snookiefarris8510]

John Phillips was raping his biological daughter yet had the gall to talk down to Cass Elliot and blame her for Helter Skelter! He was GROSS!

[@user-nu6gl8io8f]

Amen

[@user-nu6gl8io8f]

If only the Turth came out about John

[@ShadowAussie]

​@@user-nu6gl8io8fit did come out

[@jocelynwingate8999]

Once a pedo always a pedo!

[@nonyabiz550]

​@@user-nu6gl8io8fAnd Michelle!

[@irenebaxendale8367]

She was amazing, her songs still stop me from doing anything just to listen. I can't stand bullying, but what she went through was persecution. Rip mama cass, thousands still listen to you.

[@joannmartinez8295]

They needed her and never would have made it without her, she is the voice I remember when I listen to her music

[@d.r.mathias9648]

When you know the darkness of John Phillips, you have to wonder how he had the nerve to shame Cass Elliot

[@annabrahamson4320]

Because thinness is all that matters

[@user-vl8qw8hp1g]

John Phillips was a creep!

[@athanksgivingbaby570]

Ummm yeah... I'm pretty sure inc*st qualifies him for that.

[@maxinesymmons9711]

I was thinking the same thing while watching this....he's a sick weirdo if everything is true about him

[@eugeniasyro5774]

He was a cretin.

[@tatertot1946]

Truth is, they were fat zeros without her. She had the voice and the talent they were just tag-a-longs. RIP Mama...

[@janemoore1708]

That is so true.

[@Maggie-rr8gi]

Absolutely true!

[@Brinta3]

She was very important for their sound, but to counter your argument: John Phillips wrote nearly all of their songs. John and Michelle co-wrote California Dreamin’. Denny Doherty was a songwriter and as a guitarist helped with developing John’s songs. Cass Elliott didn’t write songs. She couldn’t play any instrument. By definition she was a tag-a-long, always dependent on other people’s masterpieces. Two of her best known solo singles (Dream a Little Dream of Me, Make Your Own Kind of Music) were by every definition cover songs. Bands combine the individual talents of their members, and each member is important.

[@53snuckplum]

Not exactly true ; he may have been a jerk but John Philips was an excellent songwriter.

[@maryhalverson5713]

​@@53snuckplum The devil often gifts his most ardent minions with alluring talents.

[@wendieking4184]

That lie about Cass Elliot choking on a sandwich was what I’ve believed all my life. That’s the kind of traction little smears cause. I’m sorry for her, she deserved much better.

[@Klove5343]

As the saing goes, "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes"

[@winkpinky1445]

That sandwich line made me so angry

[@scarlettyarborough5499]

I believed that as well...what a mean public !

[@SundayCookingRemix]

I remember my mom telling me that story 😢

[@Joy3LastNames]

Me too! Believing all this time she died from choking on a sandwich. 🤬 Mean people suck.

[@jenniedevereaux2696]

Poor woman. She suffered si much abuse and bullying. Yet she remained an angelic soul. She was too good for us. A rare soul. ✨️ ❤

[@sherrih6375]

I agree! Curious if your phone changes your "o's" to "i's" too! Mine does this too! 😮

[@EmpoweredAngels]

​@@sherrih6375lol I thought it was my eyes! lol

[@sherrih6375]

@@EmpoweredAngels My phone is constantly confusing me with it's insane autocorrect. 😂

[@anovemberstar]

Exactly like Sinead O'Connor

[@sherrih6375]

@@anovemberstar It's been said that God gives his toughest assignments to his mightiest warrior's. She was a Queen Warrior. What exactly is wrong with our society that it's deemed acceptable to engage in the fat shaming, and mom shaming of this beautiful woman, while sucking her voice dry for another session of her beautiful singing gifts?

[@GTX1123]

My uncle was in a band with her for a brief time when she had moved back to the DC area. This was obviously before the Mamas and the Papas. My uncle was a keyboard player and they were desperate to find a female vocalist. They had never met her so when she showed up for the audition it was like "ok, you're next...let's hear it". She started singing and didn't even finish the song before they ended all other auditions and hired her. She was that amazing as a singer.

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

@@contour157 Ahole.

[@Annoyed.Dragon]

​@@contour157 🙄 Virgin

[@leelohaskin7941]

​@@contour157 goōfy azz

[@OldDawg-mc3dy]

I have auditioned many and when the rare great singer comes along you know it in seconds audition over. Then it is a matter of do you all have the same goals can you all at least tolerate each other.

[@wildbill7081]

your such an angry little troll@@contour157

[@AGreen-ug9oi]

Three backup singers to make up for Cass’ absence. “They did not succeed”. That girl had some pipes!

[@contour157]

and some teeth too

[@kellydalstok8900]

@@contour157 But you are perfect, right? Not on the inside, sadly.

[@tonyasmom]

Thanks, Kelly!

[@e-mail881]

@@kellydalstok8900 But you have the perfect inside, eh!? You're like a saintly role model for humanity... LMAO!!!

[@barneyronnie]

Gobsmacked...

[@juanitatownsend3997]

I'm a 65 yr,s young black woman and I remember the mama,s and the papa,s group. My oldest brother was a big fan. I listen to there music because of him and I found this woman to be so talented inspite of her weight. I just hope that her daughter is living a good life ..😢 sad story but true. 😮🙏✝️

[@glee_again2594]

LOVE how you call yourself years young. I am going to have to adopt that! I say to myself “I’m so old”, but I don’t feel old in spirit. Shoot, if by God’s grace eternity is ahead I am a spring chicken. 😂

[@rothalisher6716]

😮

[@cyndythefarmersdaughter]

I'm 65-years young, also, (July 1959) and it's a pleasure to come across your post here. The times they are a-changin' still rings true today, but our generation reaped the best this country has offered... IMHO. Today, we're seeing the worst of outright ugly our generation has ever witnessed in this country. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine the hatred we're witnessing... and from self-described Christians aka Christian Nationalists who've weaponized the Bible, which had already been used when I was growing up, as a means of controlling others. The Jesus I know was a loving man who accepted all beings. If alive today, I dare think Jesus would accept the narratives being espoused in his name. These are scary times indeed.

[@ChrisW228]

Her daughter is well. :) I saw a video here on KZbin that you could probably find easily. She was catching up with Chynna Phillips who is still a good friend.

[@gayle8153]

I’ve been overweight my whole life, even though me and my siblings all got exactly the same portions of food, since we were on a tight budget and our mom wanted to make sure we all got fair amounts. I used to watch Cass’s show as a girl and I loved the theme song, Make Your Own Kind Of Music. I identified with her because of her size, and I thought she was pretty. I thought, if she’s a star and she’s big, it’s not so bad that I’m bigger than my siblings. I’m just different. I’ll always remember her.

[@AuntLoopy123]

It's almost as if human beings are individuals, and there is more to size than "calories in/calories out" and the "everyone knows" so-called "common sense" weight control techniques THAT KILL PEOPLE>

[@dawnelder9046]

Watch Gary Taubes Good Calories, Bad Calories lecture or read the book. It is a hard read, but knowledge is power. It is the history of diet and nutritional studies. And you have been lied to all your life. We all have. The Adventist cult controls most nutritional studies in North America. Harvard sold their scientific soul to the Adventist cult food industry agenda over half a century ago. Adventist. Think Kellogg and Post. The old 1950s British human health diet in the prologue of Good Calories will work for most people. Fourteen years now. I also recommend watching Dr. Chris Knobbe Are vegetable oils the primary driver of obesity and diabetes. The other issue could be food allergies. It did not matter what I did until I got gluten out of my diet. Issues with gluten started at age 5 and stopped at 47 when I figured it out. I also must avoid lugumes. Try going carnivore for 2 or 3 weeks. Keep a diary. Add back one real food a week. It could be more than one thing causing the issues. Keep a diary. Weigh yourself the morning of and the morning after. A massive jump in weight, and I am going to guess you know exactly what I am talking about, is a sign of inflammation. Rashes, constipation, diarrhea, arthritis are all signs of food allergies and intolerance. If you add back something like soy sauce, write all ingredients. It has both wheat and soy. Both can cause issues. Both are grass and all grass has gluten. A little history. The nutritionalist who did the research for the food pyramid refused to have her name on it after the senator in charge let his Adventist cult food industry buddies change it to the monstrosity that came out. She warned them if they put it out and people followed it that there would be a massive increase in obesity, diabetics, heart attacks, strokes, depression, dementia, autoimmune disease, cancer, etc. She was right. But instead of admitting their mistake they did the vegan gaslighting thing of blaming the victims of their bad advice and pointing out the few that could stay slim, if not healthy on their death diet. Add Poly Ovarian Syndrom, PMS, autism, ADHD, low testosterone, messed up thyroid and likely much more to the list. Then in the 90s a vegan group hiding under the name Science in the Public Interest pushed to have dangerous seed oils replace natural animal fats at restaurants. Eighty percent of obese and fat people have metabolic syndrome. Sixty percent of normal and thin people also have metabolic syndrome. Americans eat 100 less calories than 20 years ago. Yet obesity has increased. Big red flags. Something to think about. Regular refinded grains are grass. So called healthy whole grains are grass. Seed, vegetable oils are grass. Cane sugar is grass. HFCS is grass. Artificial colors often grass based. Many artificial preservatives are grass based. These make up most of the products sold as a well balanced diet. Grass.

[@staceytroffer8287]

I didn’t know all this about Mama Cass. How heart breaking. The rest of HER BAND (cause they were zero without her) should be ashamed of themselves. Just ashamed.

[@sheilagravely5621]

Stacey, do you know if any of them are even still alive? It makes me wonder.👋👋♥️

[@gcbaba]

@@sheilagravely5621Michelle Phillips is still alive. ( as is MacKenzie P) but all others have passed on

[@Sea0fTime]

They were all talented. Bring aholes to Cass doesn't mean they lacked talent. John wrote most of their songs, Michelle cowrote some, had a beautiful voice, and was also a decent actress.

[@francesdelarue4519]

With the exception of Michelle ,none of them were great shakes in the looks department. Kind of hypocritical.

[@nicholasbrowning4558]

Total bs. They were talented and would have made it without her. She was lucky they let her into the band. Her story is indeed a sad one but taking pot shots at her band mates is wrong

[@eh-i1841]

All the others were self-obsessed.Cass was a down-to-earth,friendly character.Too nice for them.Her weight gave her individuality,like Streisand’s nose gave to her.I adore Cass’s voice,it’s so beautifully harmonious.

[@mica4292]

She had one of the most beautiful voices. Ever.

[@SYA357]

Tell me again that fatshaming doesn't put lives at risk.

[@MetalxxDragoness]

Some people are addicted to drugs, gambling, sex, food. Every body is addicted to what makes them feel better and for whatever reason some people are addicted to being Aholes. Either way nobody should cause another person to feel so bad that they lose their life because of it. I wish I could say that the world has changed but it hasn't. 🙏Some day though I pray it will. I know many people who have suffered from fad diets and starving themselves to fit into this society, to look like everybody else. I wish that those people knew that they are wonderful just the way they are.

[@paulapalais]

​@@MetalxxDragonessYou worded that so beautifully. ❤

[@malcolmr3]

I saw an interview with her where she talked about her weight. She said that she lost weight once and just couldn’t carry the notes in the same way and that’s why she put the weight back on.

[@vickiewoolford5682]

Thank you for telling her story with such respect and compassion she was one of my favorite singers. How anyone could mistreat anyone so terrible is beyond me. She was big to carry such a big heart & beautiful Spirit. RIP Ms.❤Cass Elliot 🙏

[@pugnacious1]

Funny how much John Phillips bullied her so badly (didn't he have a mirror😂), yet she was the one who eclipsed all of them. Her voice the most identifiable- she was smart, funny and yes, beautiful. RIP, queen.

[@renae9365]

Mama Cass and Karen Carpenter both had the most pure voices I’ve ever heard. Both beautiful lady’s and such sad stories.

[@elisemiller13]

@renae9365 Same thoughts... tragic

[@kathleenkretch566]

I so agree, Karen and Cass, the most beautiful voices.

[@tonyborelli.]

if cass had given karen the ham sandwich, they'd both be alive today

[@weegiewarbler]

​@@tonyborelli.GTFROOH YW

[@veronicacalloway2795]

Really so tragic

[@lydiawilson6541]

Cass Elliott WAS the Mama’s and the Papa’s! Her voice was so beautiful and melodic. I could listen to her sing all day long. I cried when she passed away because she was more than just Mama Cass. She was beautiful to me 😢❤

[@paulgentile1024]

I must say that the vocal Harmony between Denny and Mama Cass was quite unique..& beautiful. Mama Cass did have one of the great singing and recognizable voices of her era.. and John Phillips was the main writer and arranger of the music.. as great as Mama Cass was she was not The Mamas & the Papas.. that is selling the band short..

[@colettekraeuter2209]

I agree! A waste of a beautiful woman and talent. It appalls me how she was treated. They were nothing without her ❤

[@finn4785]

That band would've gone nowhere without Cass. Best singer. She was the star. Cruel world.

[@tamarabeinlich7353]

I think it was John who started the rumor Cass died eating a ham sandwich 😞You do not get mono and hepatitis from dieting. The Beach Boys hung out with Manson too but only Cass got the bad publicity from it! Women today are still fat shamed by men and some women. It's so unfair how Cass was treated.

[@nancygodsey8312]

I saw a t-shirt decades ago that I still remember. The printing stated...I'm fat and you're ugly, but I can always lose weight. I took it to mean ugly on the inside. That doesn't change. I have known and loved many overweight people. I don't remember even one that was cruel or a bully. The opposite in fact.

[@tamarabeinlich7353]

@@nancygodsey8312 I was always tiny till they took out my tonsils at 12. When I was 15 my dad's friend called me fat. I starved myself till I was 96 pounds. People don't realize the harm they cause teen girls.

[@ckaydw]

I loved Cass Ellicott so much. She could sing like no body business. It hurts to know that she went through so much in short her life. She didn’t deserved to be treated mean. You could tell she had a big heart and love for the people around her. Her daughter Owen has every reason to be very proud of her Mom. Rest In Peace Cass.

[@susanleffingwell3392]

Yes the way she was treated was ugly and should remind us that Cass was as brave as she could be under the circumstances. For those receiving similar decisive “distractions” and abuse, please- Rock On!

[@susanleffingwell3392]

Devise

[@susansmith4749]

She was perfectly beautiful, with a beautiful voice.

[@lisaparsons4124]

Yes I agree Cass Elliot a awesome singer had a awesome voice ❤

[@now591]

@@susansmith4749 Be honest. Her voice was beautiful but obesity is not . Tragic that correct dietary advice was not available at that time. Keto diet would have been her salvation.

[@ValTwineDeaner]

I'm 64 and from the UK. I absolutely love her voice, it's the voice of an angel. I had no idea she had such a tough time. I can't stand bullies, and my whole life I've always stood up for people who've been bullied. I'm painfully shy, and was bullied myself at work, and losing my job in the end. I hope she's resting in peace and still singing on the other side.

[@Clyde-2055]

Angels can fly …

[@whereswaldo23]

I am with you regarding bullies. I am sorry you lost your job because of it. I’ve recently reported to corporate HR the person at my job who has bullied me for years. Hopefully something will change as a result. Best wishes to you.

[@Eilen62]

She is, for sure ❤🙏🙏🙏

[@christinakathleen9445]

I am so sorry this happened to you. ❤

[@leetau8429]

im 62 and i also love her voice. I hate bullies too and have always intervined when I come across bullying...am very sorry this happened to you. I believe mama cass is flying high on the otherside and lives on in her music and daughter

[@susiemalphurs5212]

She so want a child. She was a good Mom and loved her daughter unconditionally.❤

[@jupiter1014]

Cass was pretty resilient facing insults like she did , even in that song. What a strong and brave Woman RIP 🙏 ❤

[@earthlovelive]

Cass was what made the Mamas and the Papas, without her they would never have reached the height they did. So sad to know how they treated her, absolutely disgusting. After being put down and shamed for so long her confidence must have plummeted. I have always loved her voice and personally I think she was absolutely beautiful, big or not. She had the most gorgeous eyes and smile, it lit up the room.

[@suzannepettitt1690]

I was at her last performance in London, I was only 16 but have never forgotten that night or the headlines the next morning. Sad sad loss.😢

[@deborahgonzalezknight168]

She obviously had thyroid or lymphatic problems. Poor woman. Her voice was gold.

[@patriciaaznavourian3014]

Obesity is a disease, similar to other addictions, a cunning and deadly disease. The shame of it should stop, it's a physical disease like someone with heart disease or any other kind of disease. If you don't have it you'll never understand

[@laceysilver5714]

Do not make assumptions and what she had or not.

[@PJTYLER]

I was a chubby little girl in the 1960's and 70's. I loved her. I thought she was so dynamic and such a brave woman.

[@thomasmleahy6218]

When I hear their singing, it's Cass's voice that stands out, it's the one I hear. She had a powerful voice.

[@karencahill4798]

There is a saying; “When you point your finger at someone, you have 3 fingers pointing back at you.”

[@530MAIDU]

Yes 👍🏽 Exactly

[@MoreFormosa]

You also have a thumb pointing at them. So it’s actually 2/3 ratio, not bad, not bad at all.

[@lawilder2059]

Her singing was beautiful and effortless. California dreamin allows her voice to dominate. Amazing.

[@joyceellis9722]

Not really. The other guy that sang lead on that song was quite good.

[@angelabarrett5114]

A beautiful woman with or without her weight. She was also blessed with a powerful gorgeous voice RIP Mama Cass

[@jimrebr]

Cass was the STAR, no doubt about it, Michelle was a good singer, they all were, but Cass Elliot is irreplaceable always❤

[@lastilnovista]

yup. any generic soprano could have stood in for Michelle, but Cass was one of a kind.

[@sharksport01]

I love all Michelle's solo hit songs.

[@lastilnovista]

Mid-chelle

[@maggiegarber246]

Michelle was not a good singer and she definitely wasn’t a nice person. She was aboard a transatlantic cruise that I was on, part of the entertainment. When we got to NYC, she pushed me out of the way to take a picture of the Statue of Liberty but didn’t say a word while she did it. She also bragged about dismissing Cass’s affection for Denny when she ( Michelle) slept with him.

[@jamesgilliam5278]

I don't think they would have made it without her. She had an incredible voice

[@Umberto2]

This was a really well done little documentary on Mama Cass. Subscribed for more. I hate that I thought she died of choking on a ham sandwich. What a nasty society we live in. She was an amazing talent and probably pretty cool too.

[@micheletanis9973]

Ty for setting the story right.

[@user-vg6pj2my2n]

Bless this dear woman. If she had not been bullied so much, imagine the life she could have had. She was already a success, but it could have been happier and much more fullfilling. May her daughter live well and happy. What can we learn today? Do not fat shame ever!

[@funshine817]

Unfortunately it has gone to the other extreme. Obesity is celebrated, now. We need a middle ground. Being fat is not good/healthy, but no shaming.

[@eilenekellogg-ki2br]

That demonizing of weight actually killed karen carpenter.

[@abbatrouble]

Karen Carpenter was not overweight but Cass was grossly obese - a sloppy fat!

[@tapper701]

Indirectly ... Karen's own actions are what led to her untimely death ...

[@heydeanie]

​@@tapper701🙄🙄🙄

[@itravisoni]

Karen Carpenter had a mental disorder anorexia.

[@tapper701]

@@heydeanie Choices - hers cost her life ...

[@chiquitalombard1401]

The heart attack story was the one that I always believed. It fit in with her unhealthy attempts to lose weight. Although I had the exact opposite weight problem, I hated the constant jokes and references to her weight as much as I hated skinny jokes aimed at me. Cass Elliott's talent was dearly missed and she was definitely irreplaceable! 😢

[@nanny287]

Case was always the one with the outstanding voice in The Mamas and The Papas. She actually was reduced to almost begging John Phillips to “allow” her to join, chasing the other three down to an island bearing alcohol. She was their best singer hands down and was used. I was so happy that she got her own television show, but so much was ephemeral in her life. Your admirers are a perpetual constant though, and will always admire and love you. Rest Easy, sweet Cass. 🎶❤️🎶

[@branchtobranch5607]

Michelle Philips makes me sick. She didn’t come close to the talent of Cass Elliot and she should have defended her in every situation. I loved the voice of Cass Elliot and so did the world.

[@jeanreynolds1425]

@@91dodgespiritrt Stupid!

[@Faretheewell608]

@@91dodgespiritrt But she did not know enough to get those teeth fixed

[@b.strong9396]

@@91dodgespiritrtthat is not how she died. They made that up to make her look bad.

[@imtheitchyouneedtoscratch]

Yeah Michelle was a regular town bike and can't believe she claims to be friends with the late beautiful Sharon Tate when she was getting her back blown out by Roman Polanski in the UK while Sharon was waiting and begging for his return to Cielo Drive as Sharon was due anytime for there birth of there first child Paul Richard but her life was cut short by The Manson Mob on August 9,1969. Yeah nice bloody friend you turned out to be Michelle and your just as fucked up as your ex husband John.🤦😳😡😡😡😡

[@user-fc3ki3gb7u]

CASS Elliott was Jewish.

[@lisabanaszak293]

I wonder if Michelle Phillips has guilt for treating Cass so badly? She certainly didn’t have a super great voice. Mama Cass was FANTASTIC

[@user-ur2yr5db9c]

​​@@maxsdad538wow is your opinion the only one that counts? You couldn't have stated you comment without being so rude?😮

[@Lazydaisy646]

​@@user-ur2yr5db9cobviously he cant help it

[@lisabanaszak293]

@@maxsdad538 you have no idea who you’re talking to. My father played back up to MANY GREATS ..Michelle’s voice was subpar at best. To each his own-but don’t presume you are the authority on talent.

[@lisabanaszak293]

@@user-ur2yr5db9c I wasn’t being rude. I was just stating an opinion.

[@lisabanaszak293]

@@user-ur2yr5db9c you’re the RUDE one. Go be rude to your FIVE subscribers.

[@kismetteg6339]

I grew up listening to The Mamas and The Papas then Mama Cass when she went solo.. my Momma loved her and so then I did too. I remember Momma dancing around with me singing loud and proud with them … amazing memories of my Momma… she and I both were so upset when Mama Cass passed away… every time she heard someone saying the “ham sandwich” story, she’d go into defense mode real quick and set them straight even quicker. Beautiful voice.. still calms my emotions and my heart.

[@Rr-ri4oi]

👋Thanks for correcting the record... I always loved her voice & couldn't care less about her size, even though it was my experience of that time that my overweight relatives were mercilessly fat shamed and none of the adults spoke up & said it was not OK - so pleased that SOME progress has been made on that front, but there are always cruel people who persist. And now her voice is in my head & I'm looking for videos to listen & watch her sing like an angel 😇

[@lyndafoster9437]

People are so cruel. 😢. She was the voice of mama’s and Papa’s !!❤

[@kenthuang436]

Absolutely! It’s such a shame that female singers that are bigger often don’t get their proper dues or recognition as they should be getting.

[@harrietcraig6716]

Absolutely! They would have been NOTHING without her!

[@lisaparsons4124]

Yes I agree 💯 awesome voice ❤Cass Elliot

[@Sexxxyism]

She had a lot of confidence though. Good for her.

[@karenlugo479]

😢

[@jenniferseals3642]

She had the voice of an angel. The Mamas and the Papas would never have made it without her. She was lost much too soon.

[@xavierminchello8431]

EXACTLY!

[@Heidi_Bradshaw]

You are still so missed Mama Cass. And you’ll never be forgotten xx

[@decadentdragon6217]

Great video. I saw old episodes of the Carol Burnett Show a few years ago and it was the first time I ever heard her sing on her own. I was blown away by her vocals. I only knew of her when she was part of the group. Paul Anka, Dudley Moore, Carol Burnett, Joel Grey.....she sang with so many stars! I didn't know this. She was a wonderful star herself. It's a shame her health took her because she deserved so much more time to keep singing. Such a talent. 💔

[@user-uk1uu9vt8z]

You’ll find her singing with John Denver also … if u haven’t already …😅

[@pauladouglas9891]

She was a shining light, the only group member who had a solo career. Her voice was beautiful and she was gone too soon.

[@91dodgespiritrt]

She was a side show. A laughing stock.

[@contour157]

@@91dodgespiritrt live stock.. a moo moo in a mumu

[@wildbill7081]

your just here to be a dumb little troll oh poor baby@@91dodgespiritrt

[@ChasingRainbows67]

​@@91dodgespiritrtCass was the voice of the Mama's and the Papa's!!! RIP Cass❤

[@lisaparsons4124]

Yes I agree awesome singer 💓 Cass Elliot

[@sweettina2]

Cass had more talent in her little finger than the majority of these artists combined.

[@festivelady826]

Amen, sister.

[@darlenestorms8745]

They were just jealous.

[@lauriediandrea715]

If there’s a Rock & Roll Heaven, there’s got to be a Rock & Roll band, & Cass is the lead singer… Rest in Paradise beautiful lady.. 🙏🏻💕🎵

[@JulieMontrose-cr4lj]

Beautifully put!

[@ml2744]

Heart wrenching!! 💔 Mean mean people!! God bless her soul!!🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

[@donb3557]

She had the voice of an Angel and now sings with them. RIP Beautiful lady.

[@lyndabird9401]

I loved her then, and I love her still. She sang beautifully. Her talent outshined the rest of the band. When she died, a 13 year old girl sat at her piano and learned every one of Cass’s songs. Committed them to memory and swore she’d never forget. I never have. The ham sandwich rumor over took the truth. I only learned a few years ago that it was fiction. She deserved so much better.

[@CounterCultureWISE]

Very well done, and kindly so. I did not know any of these details. Thank you.

[@byonnoyb]

In one of my first appearances in a New Zealand television variety show, 'Dream A Little Dream of Me' was my chosen song. Thank you for presenting this short documentary in such a way that helps us all to reflect on those times we can all take the lives of others for granted...

[@modoc852]

Her voice was so pure of tone and recognizable she really didn’t need to sing with anyone else to become a star.

[@maryannklein2235]

She sang like an angel. I loved her voice. Its so sad she was treated so badly. How sad.

[@carolannroberts]

I believe after she died they got paid in kind for their shameful treatment of the star of the show, the irreplaceable star of the show. The band broke up in 1968, got back together for a short time in 1971 and mama Cass died enough 1974. It all went to sh*t fast.

[@debrandw246]

I am so sorry about the horrible life this lovely woman endured. Bless her beautiful soul. Many thanks to the beauty she left us all.

[@macdodd]

Thanks for that I really enjoyed hearing about Cas, she was a great singer who never deserved the life she had to live. She should have been loved & adored for her great voice & her contribution to our enjoyment of the 60s & 70s music.

[@amechealle5918]

I was young when the group was popular, I honestly thought Cass was the main member and the other three were just there. Loved Cass and always will.💕

[@vickikay54]

Me too🙂

[@johnnychipello919]

me too

[@suse7535]

I also thought that!

[@therealjetlag]

Yes, me too. I never knew their names, either. She is the only memorable person in the group.

[@franceswatts4001]

And me.

[@joanfraser6500]

I loved Monday, Monday and California Dreaming. I loved Cass' voice and hate how cruel people were to her. She was the voice of the Mamas and Papas. ❤

[@derithross8314]

Really only two songs I liked but liked Cass's solo songs np.

[@Suzi64grad]

I was 20 when their music hit the charts…we loved Mama Cass….to her fans we loved the music, and didn’t care about her weight! That girl could sing! RIP….

[@dianewilliams260]

Really sad informative video of a great lady.. I knew of her songs but hadn't heard her sad story before.. Poor woman😢 Thankyou for the production 🫶

[@occamsshavecream4541]

With friends like that, who needs enemies... confirms everything I always suspected about the Mamas & the Papas. I still adore Cass.

[@artturner2054]

I love Cass' duet of "leaving on a jet plane" with John Denver

[@rayperry7315]

Absolutely... the best ever !!!

[@territimmerman140]

Mine too!!!

[@Vvykk]

Aye, that was magic.

[@pressureflipin1992]

Omg how incredible is that cover! It's one of my favorites of all time

[@Suzi64grad]

I loved their song Creque Alley! Glad you asked! My favorite though was Dedicated to the One I Love….my hubby was in Vietnam when it was popular….meant a lot!

[@reagonowmix]

If you read “Weird Scenes Inside the Canyon,” you’ll learn what a mother figure Cass Elliott was to her fellow musicians in Laurel Canyon. She was nurturing and caring, as though she were giving to all what she, herself, always searched desperately for and never found. Her home was a place where all were welcome, yes, including Charles Manson, who was also an aspiring musician at the time. Despite all odds, IMO, Cass was one of the bravest women in history, who rightly trusted her talent and understood that she had much to give. I applaud her. I’m just so sorry that, like Karen Carpenter, society and its “norms” killed her in the end. Rest in peace, beautiful spirit. You are missed. 💖

[@billciari5040]

Cass was credited with bringing together David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, during her famous Hollywood parties.

[@au7-721]

She was a friend to all communists.

[@dalethelander3781]

Did she live in Laurel Canyon? That was a whole 'nother culture in L.A.

[@We_Seek_Truth]

They disagree on that. Some credit Joni Mitchell. Also, she paired up other artists. She introduced John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky, the heart of the Lovin' Spoonful. (It's mentioned in the song "Creeque Alley.")

[@MelaninCosplay]

Loved her rendition of Dream A Little Dream of me. Such a beautiful voice. Also, I'm glad you did Cass bc I've been singing California Dreamin' by the Mama's and the Papas A LOT recently. It's one of those songs that I can't get out of my head, but I dont mind. RIP Cass Elliot ❤

[@Factinate]

Not a bad song to have stuck in your head at all. Cheers!

[@terryhorowitz7076]

I love her singing that song! Absolutely stunning. Thank you so much for this. Cass, oh what a voice! Thank you Cass.

[@lisaparsons4124]

Cass Elliot a awesome singer ❤sung in 1966,year I was born 💙

[@debra2700]

In the show Dexter, the last serial killer is obsessed with that song and plays it over and over.

[@RainbowEarthAngel123]

Mama Cass was my favorite member of the group and she was a badazz to me! She was unique, bold and everything a rockstar should be! She was beautiful and she should've heard that! Society is nothing! R.i.p. Beautiful ❤️

[@missmerrily4830]

There's not an overweight woman (possibly men too) with whom this does not resonate. Wrong weight, wrong face and everyone has something to say. Shame on you. Mama Cass was a talented singer and without her in the band they'd have been little to nothing, and nobodies. At the end of life's race, no one looks too pretty and all the cosmetics and procedures in the world can hide that truth. But the pure heart and the golden personality will stay the same, life long. And many of today's critics and trolls would do well to remember that. Rest in peace Mama Cass. You were treated so unfairly in this life. I hope you found peace in the next.

[@emilyk1109]

Her beauty shone inside and out, everywhere from her personality, to her outstanding voice and her beautiful face. She deserved so much more and better, even in death people still manage to humiliate her. It probably makes it easier for them to ignore their own part in the suffering of other people, be it the overweight classmate they bullied in high school or a post-weight gain celebrity whom they love to trash-talk.

[@zzzut]

As far as I’m concerned, Mama Cass was by far the best of the four singers. I never get tired of her voice. ❤❤❤

[@diannestephenson8414]

They were nothing without her, they should have been Ashamed of themselves.

[@katherinesullivan3826]

I totally agree 🙏🏻🩷

[@isisofegypt2010]

That's right she sang better than all them

[@91dodgespiritrt]

BULLSHIT. John Phillips was the songwriter and those songs made them - AND HER - THE SLOB.

[@latitude1904]

Scumbags. Phillips destroyed his life and his daughter

[@moosecat]

It sounds like the other three--especially John Phillips--had no sense of shame.

[@hoorootv1]

So sad & tragic. She had a beautiful voice. Appearances aren't everything ❗️And life can be very cruel ...

[@KSpides53]

❤ good job. Thank you very informative and entertaining....

[@MarinCipollina]

So sad how this poor woman was treated.. Despicable. And she was such a loving person to everyone else..

[@luracarpenter4419]

Fat shaming has always been a problem for women, especially back then, but even today. Haters need to mind their own business, I'm sure they have problems of their own. People need to love and accept each other with their differences, that's what makes this world beautiful. RIP Cass❤

[@carolynneelizabeth6459]

It’s heartbreaking knowing this fun loving and extremely talented young woman, suffered so much throughout her life. Being verbally tormented and fat shamed, just broke my heart. People being that cruel and lacking any empathy must be empty vessels; how tragic for them.

[@phriedokra6158]

Font frets as its still happening today

[@kimgraham9486]

One of the most outstanding voices ever. We love you, and forever in our hearts you'll be. ❤

[@hennyb6979]

In 2022?!!! That star award was shamefully loooong overdue! Thank you Cass Elliot, for the music 🥰

[@sukijay4990]

You have to admire not just Cass Elliot’s natural talent, but also her courage and unrelenting determination in pursuing whatever it was she wanted in life. Against tremendous odds she succeeded in everything except love and losing her weight.

[@jillholloway4586]

And she just ran out of time .. 😢

[@pjaypender1009]

97% of weight loss attempts fail because weight really isn't within people's control. Even though tallness is associated with higher rates of heart problems and early death, I never hear people say "If only he had not allowed himself to get so tall..." If you want to stop losing people like Cass Elliott and Karen Carpenter to weight stigma, stop mocking weight.

[@sukijay4990]

@@pjaypender1009 who was mocking weight?

[@FERNANDOGONZALEZ-pb6re]

Shattered my heart watching this segment on the brief life of Mama Cass Elliott.I hope that one day those people that treated her badly live to regret it. Had no choice but to cry for how society and people in general treated her simply because of her weight when they should have recognized the beauty of her spirit and the priceless essence of her heart. Thank you so very much for posting this informative and compassionate reflection of a truly beautiful woman who's tragic end was just made even worse by society's view of people that struggle with their weight.

[@blossom1643]

Great job on your video! Such a shame people are so cruel. Poor girl! Good Grief they won’t even let her Rest In Peace! Nobody could deny her Talent though Bless her.✌️

[@cynthiagreene7833]

It truly hurts my soul when I hear that someone is being bullied being on the end of it is awful. May Cass rest in Peace ✌ I have a video of my son Chris and a friend singing Monday, Monday at a spring festival he was in his teenage years so it just goes to show you how great she truly was my son is 26 now and I love being able to go back and watch the video they did a great job.

[@michellegrimm3991]

I love how not even three people could match her one beautiful voice. She was a phenomenal talent and I hate how the world was too hung up on what she looked like to give her all the opportunities she deserved. Who knows what gifts she would have bestowed on us had she been taken seriously early on. R.I.P. Cass. I hope you're singing your heart out in Heaven ❤❤❤

[@marlenejones6266]

They were just jealous of her great enormous talent. She could sing mountains above the other three. Dream a little dream of me always made me smile.

[@lisadc4681]

Not exactly true, they all had great voices, especially Denny!

[@user-mc9qh9xc6v]

Cass had a fantastic voice. When I heard as (a teenager) that she had died it was a kick in the guts. The other band members of the Mommas and Papas did not deserve her beauty and talent.

[@01splitpea]

Well done. Thank you.

[@carolynsherwen7324]

My mum use to sing "dream a little dream", she loved Mama Cass, I love her to.

[@lisaparsons4124]

Yes Cass Elliot a awesome singer,my mom Joyce Parsons liked the mamas and papas, great group

[@modickens1272]

My mom use to sing to me " I touch myself ' by the divinyls.

[@harvey1954]

The Mugwumps' guitarist was Zal Yanovsky. Hendricks played rhythm guitar. Cass introduced Zal to John Sebastian which began The Lovin' Spoonful. I'll forever be in her debt for just that one thing alone.

[@MRBAMBAM1959]

The Lovin' Spoonful is my favorite group!

[@jeanettegant2894]

She also introduced Graham Nash (The Hollies) to David Crosby and Steven Stills

[@elainesuth6771]

Awww I’ve always loved this lady! Such as amazing voice! 💗

[@pennyjaquet8433]

Cass' voice was the soul of the cruel Mama's and Papa's. How could they have been so vicious to her. Yes, she had her share of problems, made more visible by them, and others. I just loved her voice and stage personality and never knew until reading this how she had been treated. Justice for Cass is that her voice has long been revered more than overshadowing the weaker others!

[@GregWampler-xm8hv]

I agree but have to give John credit he became a true believer later on.

[@pattiepate7883]

The two Phillip's were just cruel