'Smallville' Actress Allison Mack Is Both Victim and Perpetrator of Cult's Sex Crimes, Whistleblower Says
Smallville actress Allison Mack, who was arrested last Friday in Brooklyn for her alleged involvement in what authorities described as an abusive sex cult, is a victim of the group as well as one of its chief perpetrators, a self-styled whistleblower told Newsweek.
Embattled former publicist Frank Parlato, who began exposing the group's practices through his blog in 2017, said he believed Mack was "deeply influenced" by the charismatic leader Keith Raniere. He also believed the 35-year-old actress was not mentally fit when she recruited women into DOS, the secret and abusive sect of the controversial self-help group NXIVM (pronounced "Nexium").
"Poor Allison, unfortunately got caught up in the cult," Parlato told Newsweek. "She sincerely believed that it was going to teach her things that would make her a better, more spiritual, more critical-thinking and logical type of person."
Parlato, who is facing his own legal battle related to fraud, conspiracy, money laundering and obstructing the IRS, continued, "In many ways she's as much a victim as she is a perpetrator of coercion and sex trafficking."
Mack is facing charges of sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and forced labor conspiracy for her involvement in DOS, which loosely translates to "masters over the slave women" in Latin. According to investigators, Mack helped brand female members with Raniere's initials, forced them into sexual relationships with the 57-year-old guru and blackmailed them with compromising information if they tried to leave. The criminal indictment acknowledged that Mack served as a "slave" for Raniere while simultaneously controlling the group's lesser members.
If found guilty, the actress could be sentenced to a prison term of 15 years to life imprisonment.
Parlato claimed that Mack was brought into the self-help group by fellow Smallville actress Kristin Kreuk, who has since denied all involvement in and knowledge about the secretive DOS. After a "slow induction," according to Parlato, Mack began an intimate relationship with Raniere and rose through the ranks of the organization to become a top recruiter. Parlato claimed that the branded initials on members' bodies were a combination of "AM" and "KR," signifying her high ranking in the group.
A fairly prolific Instagram user, Mack once filled her news feeds with posts lauding feminism, women's rights and equality. Her accounts have been silent since Raniere's arrest in Mexico in late March on sex trafficking charges.
Parlato said he hoped the actress sought medical help and turnws against Raniere, and believed the remainder of the cult was still in Brooklyn, strategizing how to escape a public relations disaster. Contrary to reports, Parlato said he believed the group was not expanding but rather strategizing on how to get Raniere off the criminal charges.
"if Allison is smart, she will get psychiatric help and tell the whole truth and the whole story and serve as a witness for the prosecution," he said. "When that is uncovered, it will be revealed that she was deeply influenced, deeply tortured and tormented, and then slowly became a torturer and tormenter herself."
