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'The Vow' Episode 1: Innocent victim or sex cult leader? Allison Mack's involvement in NVIXM has viewers divided

In the 2000s, 'Smallville' actress Allison Mack joined the folds and soon became a high-ranking member within the organization

There does not seem to be any dearth of cults in the United States or even of abusive men who use their position to manipulate women into doing their bidding. HBO's latest docuseries, 'The Vow', chronicles the rise and fall of Keith Raniere, a savvy businessman who used his charms and wit to entrap many into his cult, NXIVM (pronounced Nex-e-um). Raniere's cult is the subject of the docuseries which features former members such as actresses Sarah Edmondson, Bonnie Piesse and filmmaker Mark Vicente to name a few. In 2019, Raniere was convicted of multiple federal crimes such as sex trafficking of children and conspiracy to commit forced labor, all related to a secret society within NXIVM.

NXIVM was founded by Raniere and Nancy Salzman, a nurse and trained practitioner of hypnotism and neuro-linguistic programming, on the basis of offering self-help programs known as the "Executive Success Programs". In the 2000s, 'Smallville' actress Allison Mack joined the folds and soon became a high-ranking member within the organization. Under Raniere's guidance according to other former cult members, Mack started DOS — Latin abbreviation for "Dominant Over Submissive" — and began to recruit women under the guise of women empowerment to instead groom them to become Raniere's sex slaves.

In April 2018, Mack was arrested by the FBI on charges of sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy and forced labor conspiracy in relation to her role in the NXIVM organization. She pleaded guilty to racketeering charges the following year and is awaiting sentencing.

Viewers — especially fans of The WB/The CW show 'Smallville' — have been divided over Mack's involvement in NXIVM. Mack played Chloe Sullivan, one of Clark Kent's (Tom Welling) closest friends. A fellow 'Smallville' actress, Kristen Kreuk, who played Lana Lang, also joined NXIVM but left soon afterward. A viewer tweeted, "Ugh, the moment where the celebrities start joining NXIVM is *painful* to watch, because you know Allison Mack is coming. It is like watching the buildup to a trainwreck. #TheVowHBO." 

Another wrote, "Y’all I was a such a huge Allison Mack fan even before Smallville. She did that Showtime movie. Was on a show that was produced by Judd Apatow and Chloe Sullivan was such an awesome character. Also f**k her for ruining peoples lives. #TheVow." One viewer wrote, "I can't believe I (used to) love Allison Mack when Smallville was on wow bruh #TheVowHBO."

Some fans rose to defend Mack. One tweeted, "Allison Mack is an amazing woman, she is a sinner just like all of us, being a celebrity is not easy, to be pressured, to lose one true self of identity sometimes or permanently. Allison is a human being too...you do realize that correct?" A 'Smallville' fan tweeted in reference to Raniere, "This ugly ass white man is why Chloe Sullivan lost all that weight during season 5. I’m sick. #TheVow."

'The Vow' airs on HBO on Sunday nights.