Dr. Phil's forthcoming special on Shelley Duvall has incited a firestorm of backlash and outrage over what many consider an exploitation of the struggling actress, who in the episode's promo reveals she is suffering from mental illness.

Since the jarring promo aired on Wednesday, November 16, Vivian Kubrick, the daughter of filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, whose horror film The Shining starred Duvall in 1980, called for a boycott of the upsetting episode on Twitter.

Referring to the show as "lurid entertainment," Kubrick slammed the infamous TV host over his "appallingly cruel" treatment of Duvall, writing:

Dear Dr. Phil

You are putting Shelley Duvall ‘on show’ while she is suffering from a pitiable state of ill health. Unquestionably, this is purely a form of lurid and exploitative entertainment - it’s appallingly cruel.

Shelley Duvall was a movie star ... whatever dignity a mere unfortunate creature might have in this world, is denied her by your displaying her in this way.

I recoil in complete disgust. I hope others will join me in boycotting your utterly heartless form of entertainment, because it has nothing to do with compassionate healing.

Sincerely disgusted,

Vivian Kubrick

Dr. Phil's episode featuring Duvall airs Friday, November 18.

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