Allison Mack pleads guilty to racketeering charges in NXIVM case - Fox News

Allison Mack faces 15 years to life in prison

“Smallville” star Allison Mack faces 15 years to life in prison If she is convicted for conspiracy to commit forced labor and sex trafficking. She was released from federal custody on $5 million dollars bail.

Former "Smallville" actress Allison Mack pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn federal court Monday to racketeering charges in relation to the cultlike group NXIVM.

Mack entered her plea shortly before jury selection was scheduled to start.

ALLISON MACK IS IN 'ACTIVE PLEA NEGOTIATIONS' TO AVOID TRIAL FOR ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN NXIVM SEX CULT

The trial was expected to detail sensational allegations that the group recruited sex slaves for its spiritual leader, Keith Raniere.

Prosecutors accused Mack of helping Raniere recruit women to a secret sub-society within the group.

Mack is best known for her long-running role on the superhero TV show about the early days of Clark Kent’s life. However, it was reported that she was heavily involved in the NXIVM organization shortly after authorities began making arrests. Mack allegedly got involved with the group when she was unhappy with her acting career. She reportedly rose in the ranks to become a key player in its activities, which allegedly included branding its members and finding sex slaves for Raniere.

The defense says the women were never abused.

Keith Raniere (left) and his accused sidekick, "Smallville" actress Allison Mack, are also being accused of crimes related to the alleged self-help group NXIVM. (YouTube/AP)

Authorities say the women were branded by a surgical tool with a symbol that resembled Raniere's initials. Mack has said in an interview that the group emphasized self-discipline and self-empowerment and she likened the branding to getting a tattoo, but cooler.

Mack is said to have been living in upstate New York with alleged cult leader Raniere until he reportedly fled to Mexico in November. She was seen running after him when he was apprehended in Mexico in March.

‘SMALLVILLE STAR ALLISON MACK CITES SCIENTOLOGY AS A DEFENSE IN SEX TRAFFICKING CASE

Two other women charged in the case, former NXIVM executive Nancy Salzman and her daughter, Lauren, have already pleaded guilty.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2019-04-08 17:06:35Z
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Miranda Lambert Took A Dig At Blake Shelton Onstage At The ACM Awards As He Was Sitting With Gwen Stefani - BuzzFeed

In 2015, country singers Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert got divorced. It was a big, highly-publicized moment in country music/pop culture.

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Now, Blake is dating singer Gwen Stefani.

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

And Miranda is married to Brendan McLoughlin, who she was with last night.

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Well, the four of them (Miranda, Blake, Gwen, Brendan) were all at the ACM Awards, and Miranda performed her 2014 sassy hit, "Little Red Wagon."

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

When it came time to sing the lyric "I live in Oklahoma," Miranda switched it to this:

Kevin Winter / Getty

That was definitely some shade thrown at Blake. The two lived in Oklahoma when they were married.

Larry Busacca / Getty Images

And we all know Gwen and Blake were probably sittin' there, like, "This is awkwarddddd."

Fans had mixed reactions to the shade, with some praising her sass...

When @mirandalambert said “I got the hell out of Oklahoma” with Blake in the room. I felt that. I may have screamed a little.

12:57 AM - 08 Apr 2019

...and others saying it was petty:

@jamiejosephine6 If @mirandalambert is over Blake why take that dig. Don't forget at one time he was your sun and moon and you sure did have huge success with a song he wrote. I guess people in Oklahoma shouldnt support you as well right. You just dissed the entire state.

12:52 AM - 08 Apr 2019

Miranda Lambert needs to grow up. She has been divorced from Blake for 4 yrs & she is remarried & she even brought her new husband to the awards but she still has to throw shade at Blake? Grow up girl. Move on.

03:10 PM - 08 Apr 2019

@925XTU @mirandalambert That was a classless move towards Blake, no reason for that. #bitterness #getoverit

12:55 AM - 08 Apr 2019

Part of me is like, "Ok petty, whatever." Part of me is like, "She changed the song to update it to 2019! Let her be!" You can watch a clip of the performance here and decide for yourself.

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2019-04-08 15:41:00Z
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Allison Mack pleads guilty to racketeering charges in NXIVM case - Fox News

Allison Mack faces 15 years to life in prison

“Smallville” star Allison Mack faces 15 years to life in prison If she is convicted for conspiracy to commit forced labor and sex trafficking. She was released from federal custody on $5 million dollars bail.

Former "Smallville" actress Allison Mack pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn federal court Monday to racketeering charges in relation to the cultlike group NXIVM.

Mack entered her plea shortly before jury selection was scheduled to start.

ALLISON MACK IS IN 'ACTIVE PLEA NEGOTIATIONS' TO AVOID TRIAL FOR ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN NXIVM SEX CULT

The trial was expected to detail sensational allegations that the group recruited sex slaves for its spiritual leader, Keith Raniere.

Prosecutors accused Mack of helping Raniere recruit women to a secret sub-society within the group.

Mack is best known for her long-running role on the superhero TV show about the early days of Clark Kent’s life. However, it was reported that she was heavily involved in the NXIVM organization shortly after authorities began making arrests. Mack allegedly got involved with the group when she was unhappy with her acting career. She reportedly rose in the ranks to become a key player in its activities, which allegedly included branding its members and finding sex slaves for Raniere.

The defense says the women were never abused.

Keith Raniere (left) and his accused sidekick, "Smallville" actress Allison Mack, are also being accused of crimes related to the alleged self-help group NXIVM. (YouTube/AP)

Authorities say the women were branded by a surgical tool with a symbol that resembled Raniere's initials. Mack has said in an interview that the group emphasized self-discipline and self-empowerment and she likened the branding to getting a tattoo, but cooler.

Mack is said to have been living in upstate New York with alleged cult leader Raniere until he reportedly fled to Mexico in November. She was seen running after him when he was apprehended in Mexico in March.

‘SMALLVILLE STAR ALLISON MACK CITES SCIENTOLOGY AS A DEFENSE IN SEX TRAFFICKING CASE

Two other women charged in the case, former NXIVM executive Nancy Salzman and her daughter, Lauren, have already pleaded guilty.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2019-04-08 17:03:23Z
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AMC Orders Third Walking Dead Series Featuring 'Young Female Protagonists' and a New Generation - IGN

The Walking Dead: The Next Generation?

By Laura Prudom

AMC has ordered a third series set in the Walking Dead universe, the cable network announced Monday.

Like Fear the Walking Dead, the untitled show is not being described as a spinoff of the original series but a separate story, which, according to AMC, will "feature two young female protagonists and focus on the first generation to come-of-age in the apocalypse as we know it. Some will become heroes. Some will become villains. In the end, all of them will be changed forever. Grown-up and cemented in their identities, both good and bad."

The new series will consist of 10 episodes and will be filmed in Virginia this summer for a 2020 premiere date (since the original show films in Atlanta and Fear the Walking Dead films in Austin, we probably shouldn't expect a crossover any time soon). Walking Dead writer Matt Negrete will serve as showrunner, and co-created the project with Scott Gimple, chief content officer of The Walking Dead universe.

“We’re thrilled that the Dead will keep walking into a new corner of the post-apocalyptic world, a corner that will present stories and characters unlike any that The Walking Dead has dramatized thus far, and that is bound to excite one of the most passionate fanbases in television,” said David Madden, president of programming for AMC Networks and AMC Studios, in a statement. “Scott has been an invaluable leader for the Universe since taking on the role of chief content officer, with a distinct and innovative vision for the franchise. Likewise, we’re excited to have Matt, who has been a crucial part of The Walking Dead family for over five years and penned many memorable episodes of TWD, at the helm of this original series.”

“On the heels of an incredible ninth season of The Walking Dead and as we approach an anticipated new season of Fear the Walking Dead on June 2, this is an exciting moment for the Dead franchise, which continues to thrive in a highly competitive environment,” said Sarah Barnett, president of the entertainment networks group for AMC Networks. “We are thankful to be working with some of the best creatives in the business to expand this Universe in new and exciting ways for our fans.”

“Showing audiences an unseen pocket of The Walking Dead Universe steeped in a new mythology is a very cool way to celebrate a ‘Decade of the Dead’ on TV and over fifteen years of Robert Kirkman’s brilliant comic,” said Gimple. “Matt Negrete is one of the best writer-producers in TWD’s long history -- I'm thrilled to be working beside him to tell stories unlike we’ve seen before, taking our first step into an even larger world.”

Exit Theatre Mode

“I’m beyond excited to be a part of this new show set in The Walking Dead Universe,” said Negrete. “Writing and producing for the original series has been the job of a lifetime and I’m honored to be working with Scott and all the fine Dead folks at AMC in this new capacity. I can’t wait for the fans of the franchise to see what we’ve been cooking up!”

The Walking Dead universe hasn't been particularly lucky with its youthful characters outside of the Grimes family - TWD's recently departed Henry and the "too cool Hilltop teens," as reviewer Matt Fowler calls them, have been described as a weak point for much of Season 9, while younger female characters like Enid (RIP) and the Oceanside crew have remained underdeveloped over multiple seasons. Will the next generation of Walking Dead survivors avoid the narrative pitfalls of those who came before them? We'll find out next year.

The Walking Dead wrapped up its ninth season last week, and AMC is currently developing three Walking Dead films that will focus on Rick Grimes' adventures following his departure from the show. Danai Gurira is also reportedly exiting the show after Season 10  but may appear in the Rick Grimes films. Season 5 of Fear the Walking Dead will debut in June - refresh your memory of where it left off with our Season 4 finale review.

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2019-04-08 13:00:31Z
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AMC announces another 'Walking Dead' spinoff amid lower Season 9 ratings - Fox News

AMC announced a third spinoff to 'The Walking Dead.' (Gene Page/AMC)

Amid low ratings for Season 9 of “The Walking Dead,” AMC has announced a third spinoff series set in the world of the undead apocalypse.

The yet-untitled series will join “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead” and the previously announced spinoff movies starring Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes as the network makes good on its promise to expand the highly successful zombie survival universe.

According to AMC, the third show will focus on two young female protagonists growing up in the first generation to come of age in the apocalypse that viewers have come to know.

‘THE WALKING DEAD’ DROPS TO ALL-TIME LOW IN RATINGS AND VIEWERSHIP

“Some will become heroes. Some will become villains. In the end, all of them will be changed forever. Grown-up and cemented in their identities, both good and bad,” the network’s announcement reads.

The original drama is co-created by Scott M. Gimple, chief content officer of “The Walking Dead” universe, and Matt Negrete, who has been a writer and producer on the show for the past five seasons and will be showrunner for the first 10 episodes of the new series. There's currently no word on whether characters from the other shows will make their way to the new series.

“We’re thrilled that the Dead will keep walking into a new corner of the post-apocalyptic world, a corner that will present stories and characters unlike any that ‘The Walking Dead’ has dramatized thus far, and that is bound to excite one of the most passionate fanbases in television,” said David Madden, president of programming for AMC Networks and AMC Studios in a statement to Fox News. “Scott has been an invaluable leader for the Universe since taking on the role of chief content officer, with a distinct and innovative vision for the franchise. Likewise, we’re excited to have Matt, who has been a crucial part of ‘The Walking Dead’ family for over five years and penned many memorable episodes of TWD, at the helm of this original series.”

AMC'S 'THE WALKING DEAD' KILLS OFF 10 CHARACTERS IN ONE EPISODE

“Showing audiences an unseen pocket of ‘The Walking Dead’ Universe steeped in a new mythology is a very cool way to celebrate a ‘Decade of the Dead’ on TV and over fifteen years of Robert Kirkman’s brilliant comic,” Gimple added. “Matt Negrete is one of the best writer-producers in ‘TWD’s’ long history — I'm thrilled to be working beside him to tell stories unlike we’ve seen before, taking our first step into an even larger world.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The news comes shortly after The Hollywood Reporter noted that Season 9 of “The Walking Dead” hit a new series low for ratings, which isn’t surprising as it saw the loss of principal cast members Lincoln and Lauren Cohan. In order to compensate, the show introduced a slew of new characters, many of whom are younger. Despite lower ratings, remaining viewers and critics have praised the show and its new characters, prompting AMC to double-down on expanding the show’s universe.

The new series is expected to premiere in 2020.

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2019-04-08 15:06:36Z
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AMC Plans Third ‘Walking Dead’ Series - Variety

AMC will serve up another helping of “Walking Dead,” launching a third series that tells the story of survivors in a world where a plague turns most of the civilized world into flesh-eating zombies.

The new drama, which is as yet untitled, will stand alongside two other series in the franchise – “The Walking Dead” and “Fear the Walking Dead” – and allow the cable network to feature content from a growing “universe” of “Walking Dead” stories for the bulk of the year, according to executives from AMC Networks, the outlet’s parent company. The new series will debut on AMC in 2020.

“This allows us to come to the marketplace with completely uninterrupted ‘Walking Dead’ universe content from post-Super Bowl Sunday to Thanksgiving,” says Scott Collins, president of ad sales for AMC Networks, in an interview.

The new series will be built around two young female protagonists, says Sarah Barnett, the president of the company’s entertainment networks, who noted that some of the young women portrayed on the flagship series in the group in recent episodes “have resonated” strongly with audiences. She declined to elaborate, noting that Scott Gimple, chief content officer for the “Dead” franchise, was eager to keep details to a minimum.

Related

AMC is betting that a third series will have appeal at a time when ratings for some “Walking Dead” broadcasts have winnowed – a dynamic that is not atypical for a program that has been on the air since the fall of 2010, but is still concerning. “We believe in the underlying vitality of the ‘Walking Dead” universe,” says Barnett. “’Walking Dead’ itself continues to be the number-one show by some margin,” she adds. “This show just continues to be an incredible boon for us. It’s something another cable or streaming network would actually kill for.” Other than news and sports programs, episodes of “The Walking Dead” represented many of the most-watched broadcasts on cable in the current TV season.

There’s good reason to keep the franchise going. “The Walking Dead” continues to be one of the most expensive programs for advertisers, according to Variety’s annual survey of primetime ad prices. A package of ads in “Dead” had an average cost of around $415,000 this season, according to media buyers. On TV, only NFL football broadcasts cost more. “Walking Dead” and “Fear the Walking Dead” attract some of the nation’s most prominent advertisers, according to ad-spending tracker Kantar, including Apple. American Express, T-Mobile and Microsoft.

A third series might help bring new ad money to the franchise as it matures.  “Walking Dead” and “Fear The Walking Dead” captured $240.2 million in ad revenue in 2018, according to Kantar Media.. But that figure is down about 8.4% from the $262.1 million the two series captured in advertising in 2017.

The new series will be co-created by Gimple, and Matt Negrete, who has been a writer and producer on “The Walking Dead” for the past five seasons and who will serve as showrunner. Produced by AMC Studios, the series will begin production on 10 episodes this summer in Virginia.

 

 

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2019-04-08 13:00:00Z
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Miranda Lambert Shaded Blake Shelton Right in Front of His Damn Face at the ACM Awards - Cosmopolitan.com

• Miranda Lambert shaded her ex Blake Shelton last night at the ACM Awards by changing the lyrics to her song "Little Red Wagon."
• Awkwardly, Blake Shelton *and* Gwen Stefani were in the audience at the time.

---

Please grab the nearest available tea and spill it all over the floor, because Miranda Lambert savagely shaded Blake Shelton at the ACM Awards last night and I, for one, will never recover. This incredible moment went down when Miranda took the stage to perform her single "Little Red Wagon" which features these lyrics:

"Oh, you only love me for my big sun glasses
And my Tony Lomas
I live in Oklahoma
And I've got long, blonde hair
And I play guitar, and I go on the road
And I do all the shit you wanna do
And my dog does tricks
And I ain't about drama, ya'll
I love my apron
But I ain't your mama!
So guess what?"

Kay, so see the part where she name drops Oklahoma? Yeah, well Blake Shelton is from there and that's where they lived during their marriage. But um, Miranda went ahead and changed the lyrics to "I got the hell out of Oklahoma," which yikes. This would be shady at the best of times, but Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani happened to be in the damn audience last night, meaning this shade was particularly cut-throat.

Tragically, there was no audience shot of Blake and Gwen (why, ACM camera team, whyyyyyyy), but Twitter was genuinely shook. Oh, and FYI that this first tweet has a video of the moment and I highly recommend you watch.

Of course, some people weren't thrilled—like our girl Misty below who is very upset on behalf of Oklahoma.

But I think for the most part we can all agree this moment ruled and Blake will never recover.

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2019-04-08 11:42:00Z
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