In 2020, Raniere was tried in court, where more than a dozen women came forward with statements regarding his psychological and sexual abuse. Each woman was instructed to say: “Master, please brand me, it would be an honor.” But instead of a tattoo, the new members were told to undress and the “master” branded them with a design that included Raniere’s initials right above their pelvic area. She was also told that another part of the initiation process was getting a small tattoo. A pyramid scheme existed within the group, with Raniere, who members called Vanguard, at the top “masters” who recruited other women to the secretive group and at the bottom were the newest recruits, who were referred to as “slaves.”Ī former member recounted to the New York Times that in order to be admitted to the secret club, she had to give her “master” naked photos and other compromising documents that would be used as blackmail if she ever told anyone about the group’s existence. Women were recruited under the false pretense that they were joining a sisterhood of sorts-but it ended up being a sex cult. NXIVM amassed more than 18,000 followers across North America until 2017, when NXIVM members came forward to expose the abusive practices of a secret society within the group. Keith Raniere started NXIVM (pronounced NEX-ee-um) in 1998, positioning the group as a self-help organization with workshops and classes on empowerment. If you thought cults were a thing of the past, think again. If you or someone you know would like to speak to a crisis counselor, please consider clicking on NAMI’s crisis text line. If you or someone you know could use help or support related to a sexual assault, please consider clicking on RAINN’s crisis support service. Please do not continue reading if you are on the fence about it. WARNING: This piece contains mentions of rape, abuse, child pornography, sex trafficking, and murder. If you’re a true-crime fanatic who lives for scary movies inspired by true stories, then knowing about the most famous cults of all time is a must. Learning about the sexual, physical, and psychological abuse that took place in various infamous cults will seriously send shivers down your spine-but there’s also something fascinating about the group-think phenomenon and how good, innocent people can get sucked into a dangerous mindset. You’ve got to admit: It’s wild that individuals are capable of brainwashing entire groups of people to such an extreme that they’d abandon everything they’ve ever known and lose grasp on the difference between good and evil. Second of all, it’s never fun to feel left out, so if you’re in the mood for some depravity, then gather round, ’cause we’re covering the scariest cult stories in modern history. If the never-ending bleak news cycle of 2021 hasn’t pushed you over the edge by now, I’d first like to say congratulations! Your fortitude is inspirational to the rest of us who are just barely holding it together during this sh*tshow of a year.
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