In a February 20, 2017, interview that took place during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests (DAPL), Phillips explained he had answered the casting call because he wanted to help his children cope with his wife's cancer.
Nunha entrevista do 20 de febreiro de 2017 que se produciu durante as protestas polo oleoduto Dakota Access (DAPL), Phillips explicou que decidiu facer o casting porque quería axudar no momento porque quería axudar ós seus fillos a facer fronte ó cancro da súa esposa.