Michelle Phillips eating a banana during a live performance in 1967 after being forced to lip sync

Michelle Phillips eating a banana during a live performance in 1967 after being forced to lip sync

This happened on June 11, 1967, during The Mamas & the Papas' lip-synced medley on The Ed Sullivan Show, including "California Dreamin'." Many view it as Michelle protesting lip-syncing, but she later said she was just hungry, grabbed fruit for something to do with her hands, and didn't intend rebellion. The band often lip-synced due to TV tech limits.