Allison Mack,best known for her role as Chloe Sullivan on the CW’s Smallville,recently sat down for a revealing interview with former co-star Michael Rosenbaum on his “Inside of You” podcast to discuss her involvement in the NXIVM cult and her subsequent experiences.The conversation marks one 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 group that was later revealed to be a front for sex trafficking and forced labor. her willingness to share her story alongside a trusted figure from her past provides crucial context to a case that captivated 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 in January 2023.
Mack detailed the extreme physical and mental conditions she endured while deeply involved with NXIVM and its leader, Keith Raniere. “I so deeply believed that what I was doing was righteous and good and powerful and transformational and profound,” she explained.”I was living on 500 calories a day. I was running 5 to 6 miles every morning because that’s what Keith wanted. I was so sick. But I didn’t feel any of it because the fanaticism was so present.”
She acknowledged the harm she caused, stating she knew what she did 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 previous life to do so. “That’s the only reason I’m here,” Mack responded, becoming visibly emotional. “It meant more than you could know that you have been kind. I think that just speaks to your character.”
Mack pleaded guilty in 2019 to racketeering conspiracy charges and was sentenced to three years in prison. Her case, along with others connected to NXIVM, brought increased scrutiny to the practices of self-help groups and the potential for manipulation within them.
