Allison Mack Opens Up About NXIVM Cult Experience

Allison Mack, best known for her role on “Smallville,” has shared her experiences within the NXIVM sex cult for the first time. In a new seven-episode podcast series called “Allison After NXIVM,” part of CBC’s “Uncover,” she discusses her journey into the organization led by Keith Raniere. During the premiere on Monday, Mack recounted to host Natalie Robb how she became entranced by Raniere and joined the network of women drawn to him.

Reflecting on her time in the group, Mack revealed that she was compelled to have daily sexual encounters with Raniere. As she climbed the ranks, she transitioned from being a victim to a perpetrator, eventually becoming one of Raniere’s most trusted associates. She began to pressure other women to pursue the same so-called “help” that she was receiving.

Within NXIVM, Raniere secretly governed a group of women called DOS, where Mack controlled “slaves,” overseeing everything from their meals to their daily schedules. One of the women she recruited was India Oxenberg, daughter of actress Katherine Oxenberg, who was among the first to publicly denounce the cult.

The podcast opens with Mack reflecting on her June 2021 sentencing, recalling how her family listened as the court detailed her actions. “Oh my god, my poor little brother behind me has to hear about his sister,” she expressed tearfully. “Poor mom! I’m so sorry, you guys. I can stand it, but damn it, you guys, I’m so sorry. I don’t think I’m innocent, and neither were they.”

Mack admitted that it wasn’t until she faced charges that she truly grasped the extent of her actions. Throughout the podcast, she talked about the gradual process of accepting what Raniere had done to her and what she had done to others under his influence.

Raniere was apprehended in Mexico in 2018 and was convicted the following year, receiving a 120-year sentence for sex trafficking and other crimes. Mack spent nearly two years in federal prison and was released in July 2023.

The series also features Lauren Salzman, the daughter of NXIVM co-founder Nancy Salzman, who has her own story to tell. Lauren pleaded guilty and testified against Raniere, who was also her boyfriend, and was sentenced to prison with five years of probation in 2021.