Video footage of Allison Mack’s first encounter with the leader of a cult which she would go on to become a key part showed how she was left in tears due to the interaction.
Mack’s involvement in the NXIVM cult, which eventually saw her sentenced to three years in jail, has become the focus of media attention again after the actor broke her silence in a controversial new podcast.
Best known for her role on Smallville, she reportedly played a key role in recruitment for the cult.
The NXIVM cult operated in vile practices, with a shadowy female-focused section of the cult led by the celebrity, who would brand women with the initials of their leader.
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Keith Raniere, the cult’s leader, was sentenced in 2020 to 120 years in prison for a litany of crimes from his time as the head of NXIVM.
Speaking in a new podcast following her release from prison in 2023, Allison after NXIVM, Mack recounted the first time she met Raniere before she would later go on to become a ‘charismatic leader’ aiding in recruitment for the cult.
She stated that, after attending a self-help workshop, she was invited to fly to Albany to meet him.
After sitting waiting for hours whilst watching him take part in a Volleyball game, he eventually ‘dained’ to come over and speak to her.
Upon meeting him, he asked if she had any questions, something that shocked her.
Whilst she left after stating she didn’t have any questions to ask Ranirere, she would come back late in the morning to ask him ‘what is art?’
Their interaction can be seen below, taken from the documentary TV series about NXIVM called The Vow:
The clip shows her being brought to tears over his views on art and creativity.
It's bizarre footage to see in real time as someone who at the time was a Hollywood star falls under the spell of a cult leader.
One comment on the clip on YouTube said: “What the..... I... What?? I've honestly understood how certain incredible personalities born at the right time in history have brought people under a spell, but THIS GUY?!?!”
Another pointed to how he used an ‘NLP’ hand gesture, something common in public speaking to attract attention, saying: “I can understand the disarming, soft spoken charisma Raniere projects, but his directed attentive span with his eyes rapidly scanning her face just seems insincere and predatory creepy, like he’s wondering why this human has all of these emotions that he doesn’t feel.”
Following this meeting, she would go on to live with Raniere shortly afterwards, playing a key part in his recruitment of women whom he would brand and have sex with.
Speaking about her part in the cult in the documentary, she admitted to being ‘abusive’ and said: “I was harsh, and I was callous, and I was aggressive and forceful in ways that were painful for people and did make people feel like they had no choice and was incredibly abusive to people, traumatic for people."
Comments have been critical of the actor's attempts to position her as a victim of the cult, however, with many victims slamming Mack as 'cruel'.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Topics: Celebrity, Podcast, TV and Film, US News, Allison Mack
Michael Slavin