An aspiring actress who says she was duped by the NXIVN is speaking out about the inner workings of the cult and its charismatic leader who is accused of using female members as sex slaves.
Ex-member Sarah Edmondson is speaking out in an episode of A&E’s new series Cults and Extreme Belief airing Monday night, demanding that NXIVN founder Keith Raniere, in prison awaiting trial, face long overdue justice.
Edmondson was a 12-year member of the group and even recruited other women under the belief that the organization was empowering its adherents — like they had been given a “book of secrets” to a better life.
She became a DOS member, the secret sorority with the group, which was allegedly expected to be at the sexual beck and call of NXIVN founder. The breaking point for Edmonson came when she was branded with the initials of Raniere and his alleged second in command, Smallville actress Allison Mack.
“I don’t think people can imagine what it’s like to have your skin seared open by a hot cauterizing iron for 40 or 45 minutes,” she says in the episode. “It was the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt in my life…
“I believe that Keith’s arrest is the beginning of the end for NXIVM. I would say that he messed with the wrong person, and that for such a ‘brilliant’ man he made a big mistake. He really underestimated me.”
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