Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(116,783 posts)
Tue May 14, 2019, 04:37 AM May 2019

Nxivm Trial: Cult Leader Forced Women to Starve Themselves to Be 'Wraith Thin,' Witness Said

In late 2015, Mark Vicente, then a senior member of the cultlike group Nxivm, became disturbed about the physical deterioration of some women in the organization, including the actress Allison Mack.

“I began to see a lot of the women just become wraith thin,” he said on Monday, while testifying in the racketeering and sex trafficking trial of Nxivm’s leader, Keith Raniere. “It began to look like their skin was translucent.”

Mr. Vicente, who said that he believed that a long standing concern over calories, weight and appearance had led some women in Nxivm to cultivate a “skeletal” appearance, testified that he approached Mr. Raniere to air his fears, saying that Ms. Mack seemed “broken.”

The response Mr. Vicente remembered was striking; Mr. Raniere told him: “Well, I’m trying to break her.”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/13/nyregion/nxivm-trial-raniere.html

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»New York»Nxivm Trial: Cult Leader ...