Mama Cass Elliot (Pt. 2): Rape, Murder, and Taking Secrets to the Grave

Mama Cass’ role as Hollywood’s hippie den mother pulled her into the orbit of troubling company during the “Summer of Love.” The former singer of The Mamas and the Papas thrived in Laurel Canyon's social circles, which included her close friend Sharon Tate and Sharon’s husband, filmmaker Roman Polanski. But Cass’ alleged involvement in some of the long rumored-hedonistic events put her at the center of a counter-narrative that explosively disrupts the supposed motive for the Manson family murders. Decades later, there’s plenty to debunk about the final years of Mama Cass’ life— including a silly, fat-shaming myth surrounding her death that has persisted for nearly 50 years.

This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including domestic violence and graphic descriptions of violence and sexual assault.

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