Allison Mack,best known for โher roleโ as Chloeโ Sullivan on the CW’s Smallville,recently sat down forโ a revealing interview with former co-star Michaelโข Rosenbaum on his “Inside of You” podcast to discuss her involvement in the NXIVM cult โขand her subsequent experiences.The conversation marks โคone of the first times Mack has publicly addressed the scandal in depth since her 2018 arrest and 2021 sentencing.
The interview offers a rare glimpse into Mack’s mindset during her time within NXIVM, a self-help โฃgroup thatโฃ was later revealed to be โฃa front for sex traffickingโ and forced labor. her willingness to share her story alongside a trusted figure from her past provides crucial context to a case that captivatedโฃ the nation and exposed the dangers of coercive control. The discussion also highlights Mack’s path toward accountability and healing following her release from prison inโข January 2023.
Mack detailed the extreme physical and mental conditions she endured while deeply involved withโ NXIVM and its โleader, โฃKeith Raniere. “I so deeply believed that what I was doing was โฃrighteous and good and powerful and transformational and profound,” she explained.”I was livingโ on 500 โคcalories a day. I wasโ runningโฃ 5 to 6 miles every morning โbecause that’s what Keith wanted. I was so sick. But โขI didn’t feel any of it because theโ fanaticism was so present.”
She acknowledged the harm she caused, stating she knew what โshe โdidโ was wrong, despite her initial conviction in the group’s ideology. Rosenbaum expressed gratitude for Mack reaching out to him,noting she was among the first from her โคprevious โคlife to do so. “That’s the only reason I’m here,” Mack responded, becomingโ visibly emotional.โค “Itโ meant more than you could know that you have been kind. I think that just speaksโ to your character.”
Mack pleaded guilty in 2019 toโ racketeering conspiracy charges and was sentenced to three โyears in prison. Her case, along with othersโ connected to NXIVM, brought increased scrutiny to the practices โขof self-help groups and the potential for manipulation within them.
