What To Know
- Michael Rosenbaum is facing backlash for hosting his former Smallville costar Allison Mack — recently released from prison for her role in the NXIVM cult — on his Inside of You podcast.
- Social media users criticized Rosenbaum for giving Mack a platform, arguing that her involvement in NXIVM’s criminal abuse should not be platformed uncritically.
- Mack, who served 21 months of a three-year sentence after pleading guilty to racketeering charges, discussed her experiences in prison and since her release on the podcast.
Warning: The following post contains discussions of sexual assault, human trafficking, and other sensitive topics.
Michael Rosenbaum is getting backlash on social media for hosting his Smallville costar Allison Mack on his Inside of You podcast. Mack was released from prison in 2023 after serving 21 months of a three-year sentence for her involvement in the NXIVM cult. Rosenbaum played Lex Luthor on Smallville. Mack played Chloe Sullivan.
Rosenbaum interviewed Mack on his Inside of You podcast in an episode released on Tuesday, November 18. In it, Rosenbaum asked how Mack ended up getting involved in the cult and what her life has been like since her imprisonment. They also shared memories of working together on Smallville, with Rosenbaum explaining to listeners why he found the allegations against Mack unbelievable when they were first revealed in 2017. Mack detailed how she is holding herself “accountable” following her prison release.
Reddit users are criticizing Rosenbaum for platforming Mack. The Reddit thread is titled, “Looks like the Allison Mack ‘comeback’ is in full swing as she goes on Smallville costar Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast.”
“Bruh f*** her and f*** him too! But also, we shouldn’t be surprised. Michael is thirsty af,” one comment says. “He will do anything to be relevant and get people to watch/ listen [to] his podcast. Used to love him.”
“I feel like people forget that Allison Mack wasn’t just recruiting, she was one of the higher-ups in that sex cult,” another comment said. “Was she also a victim? Of course, but it seems to get glossed over that she herself did brandings and treated many of them as her own personal slaves.”
NXIVM’s leader, Keith Raniere, is currently serving a 120-year sentence for crimes of sex trafficking, racketeering, and fraud. NXIVM’s criminal activity was exposed in an October 2017 New York Times report titled “Inside a Secretive Group Where Women Are Branded.” Raniere was arrested in Mexico in March 2018 after its publication. Mack was also on the NXIVM premises at the time of Raniere’s arrest.
In April 2018, Mack was charged with sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, and forced labor conspiracy. She pleaded guilty to racketeering and racketeering conspiracy in 2019. She admitted to coercing women into becoming Raniere’s “slaves.” The court case revealed that some women in NXIVM were branded with Raniere’s initials. In July 2021, Mack was sentenced to three years in federal prison and was ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.
Mack’s cooperation in the case against Raniere resulted in her more lenient sentence. The judge also categorized Mack as a victim of the cult, but noted that her being manipulated into complicity didn’t absolve her of guilt. In July 2023, she was released from prison after 21 months. Mack’s imprisonment was split between a federal facility and house arrest.
Another comment on the Reddit thread said, “Seventeen women branded with Keith Raniere’s initials. The doctor who was in the cult and performed the brandings lost her license to practice medicine. Why should Allison Mack get a free pass into Hollywood when she helped design the ‘ritual’ along with Keith and convinced these women to get the brands?”
“Just don’t give them the views or likes. They’ll disappear when they get blocked out,” one user said.
“How is this woman allowed to be out and about like this? Ugh,” one comment asked.
Another comment criticized Mack’s desire to speak publicly: “Here’s my thing: people who do awful things deserve the chance to change and grow from their mistakes. But why is it that most of these people, rather than [lie] low and lead normal lives in a humble acceptance that they shouldn’t have access to the limelight anymore, go running straight for the brightest light they can the moment they think they’re out of the window of scrutiny? To me, that speaks VOLUMES about one’s ability to self-reflect on the harm they caused. And it’s SUPER-WEIRD that we’re getting a thumbnail with Smallville‘s Chloe in light of everything this woman has done since then. Hate to say it, but this feels like a grifty rebrand.”
On X (formerly known as Twitter), people responded directly to a post from Rosenbaum that featured a clip of his conversation with Mack.
“Why didn’t you platform one of her victims instead of doing this shameless clout grab?” one response said.
“This is disgusting. Platforming a known abuser … are your morals really that nonexistent?” said another reply, as a different reply added, “Nah. Criminal abusers shouldn’t have a platform at all.”
“The question must be asked why Allison is allowed such a redemptive platform,” another response said. “I’m not sure she, or anyone who has committed such despicable crimes as she, should be allowed this… how about we think about the victims and not the perpetrator.”
If you or someone you know is the victim of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or text INFO to 233733. If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.
If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual assault, contact the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network‘s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.