Nxivm ‘Sex Cult’ Was Also a Huge Pyramid Scheme, Lawsuit Says

[laylalex 7,252]

Quote

 

The self-help group Nxivm gained a reputation as a “sex cult” last year after its leader, Keith Raniere, was convicted of coercing some of his female followers into sexual servitude, even creating a ritual in which they were branded with his initials.

But a lawsuit filed in federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday illuminated another unsavory side of Nxivm. Most participants in the group were not Mr. Raniere’s sex slaves, the lawsuit said, but rather victims of an insidious pyramid scheme who were lured by false scientific claims into paying thousands of dollars for classes.

“They get you to not trust your own decision-making process,” said one former member, Sally Brink, who said she paid $145,000 to take Nxivm classes over the years. “They tell you that you need them to make decisions. You start to doubt everything.”

...

Mr. Raniere and his inner circle tested the loyalty of longstanding members by making extreme demands, the lawsuit said, like asking them to lick a puddle of mud or run headfirst into a tree.

The curriculum became increasingly misogynistic over time, according to the plaintiffs. One of the programs taught women that they were sheltered from the consequences of their actions by men, and that they did not deserve equal pay because they had quit their jobs to have children. Women were to be monogamous, while men were to be polygamous, Nxivm taught.

The slow indoctrination laid the foundation for certain women to be groomed as Mr. Raniere’s sexual partners, the lawsuit alleged.

Students were often scared to quit, having invested so much money and time into an endeavor that they thought could bring them success. They also saw the retaliation by Nxivm leaders against its critics and defectors, former participants said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/29/nyregion/nxivm-lawsuit-keith-raniere.html

 

I have to admit I have been a little obsessed with this story since it broke, in particular the sex slave part. Like, how did all of these intelligent, often wealthy and beautiful, women get sucked into sexual servitude to one man? So many of them, in interviews I've read, have said they felt like something was weird or off at the start of things, but they were relying on the other women who were "in" when they said this was about female self-empowerment. It's SO nuts. What kind of mental space do you need to be in to think getting branded and pledging a lifetime of servitude is a good thing?

[Boiler 43,597]

He could make a fortune selling on line classes.

[Just Paul 4,591]

5 minutes ago, laylalex said:

Like, how did all of these intelligent, often wealthy and beautiful, women get sucked into sexual servitude to one man?

Yeah,  I'd like to know too  Asking for a friend.

 

[laylalex 7,252]

 

I think he's in prison now though, Boiler. But maybe you could step in?  

Edited January 30, 2020 by laylalex

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

5 minutes ago, laylalex said:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/29/nyregion/nxivm-lawsuit-keith-raniere.html

 

I have to admit I have been a little obsessed with this story since it broke, in particular the sex slave part. Like, how did all of these intelligent, often wealthy and beautiful, women get sucked into sexual servitude to one man? So many of them, in interviews I've read, have said they felt like something was weird or off at the start of things, but they were relying on the other women who were "in" when they said this was about female self-empowerment. It's SO nuts. What kind of mental space do you need to be in to think getting branded and pledging a lifetime of servitude is a good thing?

Reckon he just "grabbed them by the #####"?  I hear some women are into that.

[laylalex 7,252]

1 minute ago, ALFKAD said:

Reckon he just "grabbed them by the #####"?  I hear some women are into that.

No, but I think there was a lot of... gaslighting.

 

(See? Occasionally I can have a sense of humor about it, when it's used in the proper context.)

[Boiler 43,597]

3 minutes ago, laylalex said:

 

I think he's in prison now though, Boiler. But maybe you could step in?  

I am a student looking for a teacher.

[laylalex 7,252]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I am a student looking for a teacher.

In obtaining sex slaves or becoming one yourself? Because I know someone who might be able to help you with the latter (not me).

[Boiler 43,597]

Well  I am probably not in a position to be too picky.

 

Just wanted to thank you for starting this thread, sort of surprised but just goes to show.

[laylalex 7,252]

Just now, Boiler said:

Well  I am probably not in a position to be too picky.

 

Just wanted to thank you for starting this thread, sort of surprised but just goes to show.

You're quite welcome.  I am generally interested in stories about people who lose their sense of identity in trying to conform to expectations of others, particularly those of romantic (or I guess in this case, sexual) partners. I'm unpacking a lot of my own baggage around this at the moment, trying not to get lost again. When you spend a lot of your life putting others first, it takes some effort to remember that you're important too. (Hence why I think about that RuPaul quote a lot.)

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

14 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Well  I am probably not in a position to be too picky.

 

Just wanted to thank you for starting this thread, sort of surprised but just goes to show.

Typically, the bottom position is less able to be picky.  Or so a friend told me once.

[Boiler 43,597]

I think you will find many of us on here have had issues arising from putting others first.

[TBoneTX 43,250]

16 hours ago, laylalex said:

Nxivm

Resigned before he was impeached, say the history books (or those proofread by NB  ).