Following last Friday’s news that Smallville actress Allison Mack had been arrested for allegedly recruiting young woman for an abusive sex cult, many reporters and bloggers began to doggedly comb through her social media for clues. They didn’t have to search for long, for as Page Six, People magazine, and other outlets began to realize, it looked an awful lot like Mack had been trying to reach out to various female celebrities on Twitter. And chief among her apparent targets was Harry Potter star Emma Watson, whose involvement in various women’s movements made her a prime target.
According to People, Mack first attempted to contact Watson on January 24th, 2016, tagging her in a tweet and saying, “I’m a fellow actress like yourself & involved in an amazing women’s movement I think you’d dig. I’d love to chat if you’re open.”
.@EmWatson I'm a fellow actress like yourself & involved in an amazing women's movement I think you'd dig. I'd love to chat if you're open.
— Allison Mack (@allisonmack) January 24, 2016
Watson, who has since changed her Twitter handle from @EmWatson to @EmmaWatson, never responded. Yet that didn’t faze Mack, who never mentioned the alleged cult NXIVM or its founder, Keith Raniere, by name. She tried tweeting at Watson again in February.
.@EmWatson I participate in a unique human development & women's movement I'd love to tell you about. As a fellow actress I can relate so…
— Allison Mack (@allisonmack) February 19, 2016
.@EmWatson well to your vision and what you want to see in the world. I think we could work together. Let me know if you're willing to chat
— Allison Mack (@allisonmack) February 19, 2016
And a third time in March.
@TheCathyJensen @EmWatson Thank you for the bump up! Would love to chat with a fellow change-maker! #InternationalWomensDay
— Allison Mack (@allisonmack) March 7, 2016
Even so, it appears Watson never responded to Mack publicly. Nor did singer Kelly Clarkson, whom Mack also tweeted at back in 2013 in an apparent attempt to recruit her.
@kelly_clarkson I heard through the grapevine that you're a fan of Smallville. I'm a fan of yours as well! I'd love to chat sometime.
— Allison Mack (@allisonmack) July 20, 2013
Both Mack and Raniere were charged with sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, and forced labor conspiracy. If convicted, they could face a minimum of 15 years in prison.