Few years back, in 2016, Dr. Phil – also known as Phil McGraw – did something that sparked off a big debate. He had Shelley Duvall, a famous actress, on his show. Shelley had worked in popular thriller movies like ‘The Shining’ and ‘Nashville’. The controversy was, Shelley was clearly not in the best of her mental health when she appeared on the show.
The Problem with The Show
Shelley was seen making strange comments during the show. This made many people think that Dr. Phil was taking advantage of her situation. For example, Shelley said things like Robin Williams, who had passed away, was still alive and could change appearance. She also talked about being afraid of the imaginary Sheriff of Nottingham. All of this was aired on live TV, disturbing many viewers and fellow celebrities.
Celebrities Stand Up for Shelley Duvall
Hollywood didn’t stay quiet about this. Well-known actor Mia Farrow called Dr. Phil a ‘predator’. Vivian Kubrick, the daughter of famous director Stanley Kubrick, was also angry. She said that Dr. Phil’s decision was shameful, and just a way to entertain viewers.
Reactions to Dr. Phil’s Actions
Dr. Phil didn’t say sorry, even after many negative responses. In a 2023 chat with Chris Wallace from CNN, he said he didn’t feel bad about airing the show. He admitted that the promo for the show had been misleading. But, he also defended himself. He said he had helped Shelley for a year after the show by giving her access to mental health professionals.
Dr. Phil’s Defense: The Not-so-sorry Apology
He further defended himself saying his critics hadn’t done anything to help Shelley. His defence and refusal to say sorry was seen as bad by many. They called it a ‘not sorry’ apology.
Shelley Duvall’s Regrets
Shelley, on the other hand, wasn’t happy about being on the show. In an interview in 2021, she said she had gone on the show without her partner knowing. She didn’t have a good opinion about Dr. Phil. She even claimed that he tried to get her on the show again, even after her mother said no.
Shelley Duvall’s End
Sadly, Shelley is no longer with us. She died while sleeping due to diabetes complications on July 11, 2024. Her excellent performances will be remembered. But, the controversial Dr. Phil episode will also be part of her memory.
In the end…
What happened with Shelley Duvall and Dr. Phil made people think about how we treat mentally ill people, especially when they’re famous. After her death, this topic has come up again. It reminds us that all people deserve kindness and respect, more so when they’re dealing with health problems. But Dr. Phil stands firm by his actions, making many viewers and people from the industry unhappy.
For more details, visit Project Casting Blog on https://www.projectcasting.com/blog/news/dr-phil-draws-criticism-for-exploiting-mentally-ill-actress-shelley-duvall/