Smallville’s Allison Mack Breaks Silence On Her Role In The NXIVM Cult: ‘I Was Excited By The Power’

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Allison Mack, known for playing Chloe Sullivan on the TV show Smallville, gained notoriety several years ago when her connection to the NXIVM cult came to light. NXIVM, founded by Keith Raniere in 1998, was a group involved in sex trafficking. Mack rose to a leadership position within the organization and was arrested in 2021, beginning a prison sentence. Now, she is speaking out about her role in the cult and how it affected her.

Actress Catherine Oxenberg, age 43, is sharing her story about being involved with a cult in a new seven-part podcast called Allison After NXIVM. In the podcast, she speaks openly with Vanity Fair journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis and her co-host Natalie Robehmed about how she was asked by Keith Raniere to recruit other young women into the group. Mack describes herself as the person who connected Raniere with those he targeted.

I acted as a messenger between him and her, guiding him on what to do to help her develop. She repeatedly expressed fear and reluctance, but I insisted she needed to proceed, warning her that delay would only make things worse. This escalated into forceful pressure, and it ultimately felt like a violation.

NXIVM operated like a hierarchy where members, referred to as “slaves,” were trained to be completely obedient to their “masters.” Allison Mack played a key role in attracting new people, which helped the group grow. Several other well-known figures, including Callum Blue from Smallville and Nicki Clyne from Battlestar Galactica, also became involved. In a podcast interview, Mack stated she isn’t typically forceful, but she learned to be assertive to get what she wanted and recruit others.

I generally avoid conflict, but when I have a strong desire for something, I can become very assertive and even forceful in pursuing it. I jokingly call this side of me ‘the little dictator.’ It first appeared when I was a child, around five years old, when I would insist on getting my way with my brother. I’d become very determined and commanding. Unfortunately, this tendency also surfaced in my relationships with others, and it ultimately led to my imprisonment – it’s a part of my personality I constantly have to manage.

In 2018, Mack was arrested by federal agents and charged with sex trafficking, conspiring to commit sex trafficking, and conspiring to force people into labor. Around the same time, reports surfaced detailing her alleged involvement with a cult, including claims that she created a branding system used on its members. In 2021, she pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiracy charges and received a three-year prison sentence.

Following her guilty plea, Allison Mack issued a statement apologizing for her involvement in the cult. She was sentenced to time at a federal correctional facility but was released early in 2023. Now, reflecting on her time with NXIVM and her close relationship with Keith Raniere, Mack acknowledges she was overwhelmed by the duties she was assigned.

I definitely enjoyed the feeling of influence I had over these young women, having them look up to me and value my opinions. And I won’t deny that the attraction was also a part of it.

The story of NXIVM, a controversial organization, has been told in several documentaries, with Allison Mack’s involvement being a central focus of the HBO Max series, The Vow. Mack, who is now studying for a master’s degree, has publicly apologized for her past actions. She says that despite any criticism she receives, she feels it’s important to be able to openly share her side of the story.

New episodes of Allison After NXIVM come out each week. But if you subscribe to CBC True Crime Premium through Apple Podcasts or on CBC True Crime’s YouTube channel, you can listen to the whole series right away.

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2025-11-10 22:14