Being Hated Is Hard, but Your Support Makes It Easier

Thank you to everyone who has reached out — past, present and future

It is hard to be hated. It doesn’t matter how much I know it’s not personal, or that people are just reacting to a fictional idea of me, it’s still hard. I’m not complaining. I make choices that put me in the line of fire and I’m at peace with that. I do so because I believe that the principles I’m standing for (truth and justice) are more important than being liked. But it doesn’t mean it’s easy.

This is why I wanted to take a moment to focus on the bright side and express my gratitude for those who have reached out in the past few days to show their support, and for those who continue to put in the effort to look past the headlines and make sense of a complicated situation. It gives me hope that there are people out there willing to invest the time and energy to come to their own conclusions and don’t just take everything they read or hear at face value. You give me strength. You give me hope. I will keep fighting because I know I’m not alone, and if you’ve been the target of a hate campaign (no matter how big or small), or unfairly prosecuted, know that I’m fighting for you too. 

Some examples of the messages that have brightened my day: 

“Super frustrating for you all but please keep going, you are all doing such an incredible job! I watched the first season as well as Seduced about a year ago, being from Australia I hadn't heard anything about NXIVM or Keith Raniere. After watching them both, I was appalled by what I was shown, I had been completely sucked in and thought Keith and you all were monsters. Being a curious person I did my own research, I watched the Dossier project videos and read some more of Frank Report, your twitter.. anything I could find really. It wasn't until you strip back the editing and all the ridiculousness of The Vow and Seduced that you realise how insane all of this is. Anyone who thinks it is a coincidence that finding child pornography charges is fooling themselves. You have encouraged me to challenge my own thinking about Australia's justice system and prison reform as well as how I consume media so thank you. It must be super frustrating having people constantly telling you that your story is invalid because it doesn't fit with what they want to believe. I know it means 0 in the context of anything but I believe you and Keith and your whole team that are fighting for due processes. If Sarah and co were "whistleblowers" and apart of this so called "cult" they would spend more time trying to help the people they loved rather than trying to ruin them…

I find it incredibly ironic that those who are guilty of consuming mainstream media like zombies are the ones to call you brainwashed. There was no way that even if Keith was guilty of all charges that it warrants a 120 year sentencing so therefore it was slightly evident that something was suspicious, I think anyone would be able to see that if they took their hate goggles off. I'm really sorry that you are experiencing all of this. Just know that even on the other side of the world, you have some support!!! :)”

“Just watched episode 1 of season 2 of the vow after getting an e-mail notification about the DOS reaction video (I wanted the context). I thought maybe I could share with you the outsider perception.

First of all, both you and Michele did really well in your segments. Thank you both for being so open and vulnerable on such a public platform. Before hearing your feedback in the DOS react video, I felt like it was good they were sharing your side and that they gave you the opportunity to do so. I'm glad you discussed the phone call though, because I picked up on something else in their portrayal that I think you guys missed, as it was very subtle. In season 1, Catherine talks about India being on two phones for a whole vacation while she was deep in DOS. In Michelle's scene with the call, she is seen holding two phones. I noticed this and as they didn't clarify that THEY were the ones who received the call, it gave the impression that not only did Michelle get calls from Keith regularly, but that she had a whole phone dedicated to it. It leads the viewer to wonder, is DOS still operating? Do they still have secret communications on secret phones? Just food for thought.

I hope you keep posting reactions with your sides of the story to fill in the pieces that they aren't giving us. I think it's incredibly important because when those missing pieces are filled in and you have the whole picture, your side of the story is clearly the rational side to land on. It's not influenced by fame, or money, or flashy headlines. It's just honesty.

Keep fighting the good fight and thank you for being such an awesome human being! 💜”