"The Mamas & the Papas Star's Cause of Death Rumor Debunked as Cruel Fat Joke"
Scott G. Shea's new book, "All the Leaves Are Brown: How the Mamas & the Papas Came Together and Broke Apart," explores the rise and downfall of the folk quartet and sheds light on the dysfunction within the band. According to Shea, band member John Phillips regularly body-shamed Cass Elliot and compared her unfavorably to his wife. The band was involved in a complicated love square, which created tension among the members. Elliot was also mocked for her weight, which contributed to her growing distance from the group. Shea debunks the rumor that Elliot choked on a ham sandwich and clarifies that she died of heart failure due to a combination of factors, including substance abuse and yo-yo dieting.