For decades, a salacious rumor persisted about the tragic demise of "Mama" Cass Elliot, alleging that she choked on a ham sandwich. Owen Elliot-Kugell, Cass's only daughter, unveils the heartbreaking truth behind her mother's death and the devastating impact of the fabricated story.
For decades, a cruel and persistent rumor has plagued the legacy of the iconic singer "Mama" Cass Elliot of The Mamas & The Papas. The false claim that she choked on a ham sandwich has haunted her daughter, Owen Elliot-Kugell, for most of her life.
Elliot-Kugell, now 57, has penned a memoir, "My Mama, Cass," where she sets the record straight about her mother's death. "Mama" Cass passed away in 1974 at the age of 32 after performing a series of sold-out shows in London.
"I remember when I was younger, and I was in school," Elliot-Kugell recalls, "I would go home with a kid and sometimes those parents would say to me, 'Hey, how did your mom really die? Did she die choking on a ham sandwich?'"
The rumor was perpetuated by the media immediately after Elliot's death, a time when paparazzi were just starting to gain prominence. Elliot-Kugell believes that the story was concocted to avoid speculation about other possible causes of death, such as drug overdose.
"It's just such a gross rumor," she reflects. "Even from the point of being overweight, and it's somebody who dies of eating. All of those connotations that came along with that rumor were pretty hard for us."
To dispel the false narrative, Elliot-Kugell tracked down her mother's last living confidantes and connected with Sue Cameron, a columnist for The Hollywood Reporter who was friends with Cass Elliot. Cameron admitted that the rumor was fabricated to protect Elliot's reputation.
"The death report said she died of a heart attack," Cameron clarified. "That's better for history."
Medical evidence supported Cameron's account. An autopsy found no drugs in Elliot's system, and experts attributed her death to heart failure caused by years of drug use, yo-yo dieting, and an overall weakened heart.
Elliot-Kugell's memoir also tackles the mystery surrounding her biological father. With the help of Cass's former bandmate Michelle Phillips, Elliot-Kugell discovered that her father was Charles "Chuck" Day, a touring bassist.
"When she decided to have a child, when she realized that was something she wanted to do, one of the things that she said to her friends was… 'I don't need a man. I'm a rock star. I have plenty of money. I have everything I need. I can do this all myself,'" Elliot-Kugell explains.
Despite the pain and trauma caused by the false rumor, Elliot-Kugell cherishes the memories of her mother. "I remember her warmth," she beams. "I remember just how giving she was, how loving she was."
Through her memoir, Elliot-Kugell hopes to shed light on Cass Elliot's personal and professional life, showcasing her resilience, determination, and the profound impact she had on the music industry. She emphasizes that the fabricated rumor should not overshadow her mother's legacy as a talented performer and an inspiring figure.
"There's a whole story there about a family who, like many other families, immigrated to the United States," she says. "A few generations later, [my mother] is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame… It's the American dream. You can come to this country and make an honest living. You can do your thing, and you can end up making your dreams come true."
