TV star Allison Mack pleaded guilty on Monday to charges concerning her involvement with a “sex slave cult” known as NXIVM. Mack, an alleged victim-turned-victimizer of the cult, pleaded guilty to manipulating women into becoming sex slaves for leader Keith Raniere.
“I believed Keith Raniere’s intentions were to help people ... and I was wrong,” Mack told a judge at a federal court in Brooklyn, according to the Associated Press.
“I know I can and will be a better person,” the actress added.
Mack claimed Raniere had her obtain “compromising information and images” of two women, who have not been named, and threaten them with leaking the sensitive information if they did not perform “acts of love” with Raniere.
“Court papers allege NXIVM formed a secret society of women who were branded with Raniere’s initials and forced to have sex with him. Defense attorneys have insisted any relationship between Raniere and the alleged victims, including an unidentified actress and other women expected to testify against him at trial, was consensual,” the AP report said.
Mack, who will now avoid trial with Raniere, is set for sentencing on September 11.
As reported by The Daily Wire last April, Mack was rumored to be one of the cult’s top recruiters. Past tweets from the actress, directed at high-profile Hollywood figures like actress Emma Watson and singer Kelly Clarkson, seemingly reveal some of her recruitment tactics.
For example, Mack tweeted messages to Watson on two occasions in 2016, appealing to the “Harry Potter” star’s noted feminist sensibilities.
"I'm a fellow actress like yourself & involved in an amazing women's movement I think you'd dig. I'd love to chat if you're open," posted Mack.
Another tweet from the actress directed at Watson read, "I participate in a unique human development & women's movement I'd love to tell you about. As a fellow actress I can relate so well to your vision and what you want to see in the world. I think we could work together. Let me know if you're willing to chat.”
Addressing Clarkson in 2013, Mack tweeted, "I heard through the grapevine that you're a fan of Smallville. I'm a fan of yours as well! I'd love to chat sometime.”
Another actress and former member of the alleged sex cult, Sarah Edmondson, recalled having to “bow” to Raniere, whom she and others refered to as “Vanguard."
“You know that's a red flag,” wrote Edmondson in a piece for VICE Canada, “but it was easily explainable: Everyone has titles—doctors have titles, and sensei has a title. We refer to people based on what they've earned. Vanguard's earned this title, and it means leader of a philosophical movement. Nothing weird about that. We wear sashes. But sashes are just like in martial arts. Nothing weird about that. So everything that I had an issue with was easily explained away.”
“I thought this was the key to success and happiness,” she recalled feeling early on. “But there was also this nugget that they left you with—that there was this problem with you that you had to resolve, and of course, that required more trainings. So even though I felt empowered there was always this recognition that I had to evolve this thing within myself to be fully happy. It almost created a dependency.”
No comments:
Post a Comment