'The Vow' Episode 5 Preview: How did Keith Raniere keep NXIVM women silent even after impregnating some of them?
HBO's latest miniseries, 'The Vow', dives into the inner workings of NXIVM (pronounced Nex-e-um), the self-help organization that was embroiled in allegations of running a sex cult. The organization was co-founded by Keith Raniere and Nancy Salzman. A few years ago, Raniere and the organization headlined the news when it was revealed that a secret group within NXIVM called DOS ("Dominant Over Submissive" in Latin) was recruiting women under the guise of empowerment, but subjected them to "master-slave" sex relationships. Many of these women were recruited as sex slaves for Raniere. One of the prominent members of NXIVM and DOS was 'Smallville' actress Allison Mack.
'The Vow' features actresses, Bonnie Piesse and Sarah Edmondson and filmmaker Mark Vicente who were former members of NXIVM. The first few episodes show viewers how they became members and how they subsequently left. Of the three, it was only Edmondson who was part of DOS and got branded with a symbol that turned out to be initials for both Raniere and Mack -- this episode caused her and her spouse, Anthony Ames, also a NXIVM member, to leave the group.
This week's episode of 'The Vow' introduces someone who played a key role in NXIVM and in Raniere's life. Kristin Keeffe was a prominent member of NXIVM and acted as the legal liaison with NXIVM. She was Raniere's partner for a very long time. Raniere was the father of Keeffe's child, Gaelyn, who was initially reported to be adopted by the two to hide the fact that the boy was Raniere's son. It was only after Keeffe broke off from NXIVM and went into hiding that the truth came out.
But Keeffe is not the only woman that Raniere had sexual relations with or impregnated. From testimonies during Raniere's trial, it was revealed that Raniere had slept with Marina, fathering her child. Marina's sister, Daniela was ordered to be kept captive in a room for more than two years by Raniere. The act was punishment for Daniela for falling in love with another man.
Daniela also testified that both she and two of her sisters all terminated pregnancies after they were impregnated by Raniere, according to Buzzfeed News. Daniela said when she got pregnant in 2003, Raniere instructed her on how to terminate the pregnancy. She testified that in 2008, her younger sister Camila was also impregnated by Raniere and Raniere had high ranking members help her get an abortion as well. Daniela also testified that Mariana had two Raniere-related abortions before getting pregnant with him a third time.
This week's episode of 'The Vow' goes deep into Keeffe's experiences with Raniere and how she had to go into hiding following her exit from NXIVM. We also learn about Keeffe's reasons for leaving the group.
'The Vow' airs on HBO on Sunday nights at 10/9c.