Allison Mack's 'Smallville' Co-Star Reacts to Her Involvement in 'Sex Cult' NXIVM: 'She Wanted Attention'

Michael Rosenbaum, who portrayed Lex Luthor on the long-running WB/CW series admitted he's remained silent thus far about this development in his one-time friend's life because he was so shocked. Finally, in response to a caller's question during an appearance on "Theo Von's This Past Weekend" podcast last week, he talked about what he knew about NXIVM during their time on the show and how sad he was to see what happened to the "sweet" girl he knew.

"It's like someone telling you that your brother murdered someone. You're like, 'No he didn't. I know my brother. He wouldn't kill anybody.' It's just so bizarre," Rosenbaum said, as detailed by Uproxx. "It's so shocking and surprising."

Mack is currently facing multiple charges, including sex trafficking, for her work with the organization, for which she was believed to be second-in-command behind Keith Raniere. It is believed Mack recruited, trained and even branded young women with a symbol representing her and Raniere's initials, all in preparation for them having sex with Raniere.

This was all under the guise of a self-help organization. It was fellow co-star Kristen Kreuk who allegedly first recruited Mack into the organization, though she is reported to have left before it evolved into an alleged sex cult. Kreuk has denied any knowledge or involvement with the organization's alleged illegal activities and has not been charged with anything.

Aside from an initial statement upon the story first breaking, Kreuk has refused to talk about NXIVM or Mack. The Daily Beast reported that when they reached out to talk with Kreuk about her new CW series "Burden of Truth," a publicist for the network replied, "We are not answering any questions about Allison Mack or NXIVM so I would need to make sure this is only about the series."

"She was like a lot of actors and actresses. She wanted attention," Rosenbaum told Von. "She wanted approval, and she found something that she probably thought would give her that. Ultimately, inadvertently, she got into something that was bigger than her."

Rosenbaum recalled hearing about Mack's involvement with "self-help stuff," but says he was a little turned off by it. "I remember her mentioning something. An organization," he said. "I didn't really listen. I just remember thinking, 'Oh, that's a little culty. That's not for me.'"

He admitted to being surpised and saddened by what's happened to Mack. "I thought she would be married with kids. She was smart, and her family was into music and opera and stuff, upper class. She had her stuff together," he said, suggesting that maybe Raniere had blackmailed or manipulated her. "You just don't really know someone."