HBO's new documentary series "The Vow" (opens in new tab), premiering August 23, takes a deep dive into NXIVM (pronounced "nexium"), which calls itself a self-help and discovery group and made headlines when a whistleblower alleged physical, sexual, and emotional abuse against its members pronounced "nexium"), cutting deeply into the issue. Some of the more serious allegations included women branded as members of a secret ritualistic "sex cult" that exists within NXIVM. Since the allegations surfaced, several members of NXIVM have been arrested, including NXIVM founder Keith Raniere, a high-profile guru-like figure with an extremely high IQ (allegedly) who has already been convicted of several crimes and awaits sentencing in New York City.

Raniere said his vision (opens in new tab) is for NXIVM to heal people's suffering and for them to become a force for good in the world. His technique ("technology") was designed to free people from emotional patterns and traps by "rewiring" their emotions.

NXIVM classes have been taught by actors Grace Park ("Battlestar Galactica"), Kristin Kreuk ("Smallville"), Allison Mack ("Smallville"), and Claire Bronfman, heiress to the Seagram liquor fortune, who became a high-ranking member of NXIVM The group was popular with celebrities and prominent figures such as. Park and Kroc later left the group.

Several former members now claim that the group's activities were actually conditioning (open in new tab) to shatter members' self-esteem and familiarize them with the system of punishment and reward. Recruiters stated in the series that they were asked to look for survivors of sexual assault, those with money, and those with insecurities.

Classes were expensive, with former member Sarah Edmondson recalling that her first class cost $5,000. Members made this possible by recruiting other members. Since then, NXIVM has been described as a Ponzi scheme (open in new tab), and former members have sued Raniere and 14 other NXIVM members. In fact, early in his career, Raniere settled out of court for creating a pyramid scheme (opens in new tab).

DOS (short for Dominus Obsequious Sororium, also known as "Dominion of Submissive Female Companions" or "Oath") was a secret society of women only within NXIVM. Invited women were told to provide nude photos, passwords, family secrets, and other information that would be damaging to them if made public. Initiates were branded with a cauterization scar in the shape of KR's (Keith Raniere) initials in the groin, sometimes including AM (Allison Mack (opens in new tab), believed to be NXIVM's second-in-command, who (opens in new tab) says she came up with the idea for the branding ) were sometimes included, forced to follow the orders of the women who invited them (their "masters") into "slave" relationships in which they counted calories, punished themselves, were sent more collateral, and in some cases were told to seduce Raniere or enter into sexual relations entered into.

As read out at trial, the DOS rulebook enforced that relationship (open in new tab): "As the opening passage states, 'Your only highest desire must be to further your master from whom all good things come and are related. The best slaves derive their highest pleasure from being the ultimate instrument of their Master." It is not important to understand the commands, but to obey them." According to former members, Raniere was the grandmaster and founder of DOS, but due to the secretive nature of the Society, the other members did not know each other or speak freely.

In 2017, whistleblowers, including high-ranking NXIVM members Sarah Edmondson and Mark Vicente, testified for a New York Times (opens in new tab) article (opens in new tab) as evidence of the group's practices (Edmondson (and revealed the KR/AM brand on her crotch). They continue to speak out about NXIVM and have been interviewed by The Oath.

In 2018 charges were filed against Raniere and he was arrested in Mexico (open in new tab). He pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking, forced labor, and other crimes. Mack initially pleaded not guilty, but later changed her plea and pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and extortion in 2019. At trial, she said, "Keith Raniere's intent was to help people, and he believed that my adherence to his belief system would empower others and help them." She apologized and shed tears. She awaits sentencing and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted (opens in new tab).

Edmondson is also writing a book about her experience.

Raniere was convicted in 2019 of extortion and sex trafficking (opens in new tab) and is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He faces a maximum possible life sentence, with sentencing currently scheduled for October (opens in new tab).

According to Vicente, the group that organizes nightly dances (open in new tab) for inmates, specifically to remember "Kay Rose" (there are no inmates of that name there, but they could be short for K.R.'s initials), is actually still loyal to Raniere It is a "fake movement" for NXIVM members.