In a memorable act of protest on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967, Michelle Phillips from The Mamas and the Papas ate a banana while they were forced to lip-sync "California Dreamin'."The Ed Sullivan Show, like many others at that time, typically aired live performances but sometimes used prerecorded tracks due to technical obstacles. | History In Pictures

On September 24, 1967, Michelle Phillips casually ate a banana live on The Ed Sullivan Show during The Mamas & The Papas’ now-iconic three-song medley. Some say it was an act of rebellion. Others say it was just the munchies. Here’s what actually happened: On a kaleidoscopic stage, the band lip-synced through “Monday, Monday,” “I Call Your Name,” and “California Dreamin’.” During the opener, Michelle spots a bowl of green grapes and starts snacking. By the next song, she’s peeling the iconic ban