Allison Mack, a 35-year-old actor best known for playing Chloe Sullivan on Smallville, is believed to have been part of a cult in which women were pressured into acting as sex slaves.
Keith Raniere was arrested on Sunday in Mexico for allegedly creating a master-slave cult within the facade of a self-help organization called NXIVM (pronounced "nex-e-um"). In a federal criminal complaint, authorities alleged he manipulated and entrapped women into "master-slave" sexual relationships, forcing them to follow strict diets and respond to his call at all hours of the night.
A November investigation in the New York Times details the ongoings of NXIVM and the secret group within it called DOS, also known as "Lord/Master of the Obedient Female Companions," as explained by ex-cult members. The ex-members said women are manipulated and extorted into having sex with Raniere, who’s also referred to as “The Vanguard,” and are branded with his initials on their hips.
Following his arrest, Raniere was charged with sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit forced labor.
"Keith Raniere created a secret society of women whom he had sex with and branded with his initials, coercing them with the threat of releasing their highly personal information and taking their assets,” said US Attorney Richard Donoghue.
Some news outlets reported that Mack was briefly seen in a video circulating of Raniere’s arrest outside of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, but the blonde woman featured in the video has not been confirmed to be her.
According to the federal criminal complaint against Raniere, a woman referred to only as “Co-Conspirator 1” was a DOS master who forced other DOS slaves to have sex with Raniere.
The court document also identifies the co-conspirator as an “actress” and states that this person appeared in video interviews with Raniere and was mentored by him.
Mack, who acted on Smallville from 2001–2011, can be seen interviewing Raniere in a series of YouTube videos from 2017 hosted by a channel titled "Keith Raniere Conversations." On Mack’s personal website, a section of her bio reads: “Over the course of several years, Mr. Raniere mentored Allison in her study of acting and music.” She has also previously tweeted about being "inspired" by him.
Listening to Keith Raniere explore thoughts on media, love and humanity. Mind is blown. I am so inspired.
The same federal criminal complaint also says "Co-Conspirator 1" worked with Raniere to develop “'The Source,' a NXIVM-affiliated entity focused on improving actors' performance skills.”
Mack’s website says that she and Raniere co-created the Source with “a small group of equally skilled and dedicated professionals.” The website describes the Source as “a curriculum … to increase one’s mastery of the art of compassion, utilizing the disciplines of acting and expression.” Her site also says Mack is the president and one of the “top trainers” of the Source.
"Co-Conspirator 1" is described as being "Raniere's direct slave," according to the criminal complaint.
A spokesperson for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York had no comment when asked if any of the co-conspirators would face charges.
Mack has not been charged with any crime.
BuzzFeed News contacted several of Mack’s family members but did not receive a response. A talent representative for Mack declined to comment on the matter when reached.
According to former NXIVM spokesperson Frank Parlato, who writes a blog exposing the inner workings of Raniere’s secret cult, Mack was initially recruited into the group by her Smallville costar Kristin Kreuk, who played Lana Lang on the show. His claims were repeated to the New York Post on Wednesday.
However, in a statement to BuzzFeed News, Kreuk said any accusation that she was part of an "inner circle" at NXIVM or that she recruited "sex slaves" was false:
When I was about 23, I took an Executive Success Programs/NXIVM “intensive,” what I understood to be a self-help/personal growth course that helped me handle my previous shyness, which is why I continued with the program. I left about five years ago and had minimal contact with those who were still involved. The accusations that I was in the “inner circle” or recruited women as “sex slaves” are blatantly false. During my time, I never experienced any illegal or nefarious activity. I am horrified and disgusted by what has come out about DOS. Thank you to all the brave women who have come forward to share their stories and expose DOS; I can’t imagine how difficult this has been for you. I am deeply disturbed and embarrassed to have been associated with NXIVM. I hope that the investigation leads to justice for all of those affected.
After Smallville ended in 2011, Mack’s Hollywood career slowed down and she only appeared in NBC’s American Odyssey (2015) and voiced a character in Amazon’s animated series Lost in Oz (2016–2017).