♪ this is "nightline." >> tonight, under his spell. a then 50-year-old father who moved into his daughter's dorm at sarah lawrence college and became a predator. >> he was really capable of reading my insecurities, my fears. >> the horrors documented on video. now his victims are speaking out about his abuse and their trauma. >> he would yell at me, he would beat me. >> and the journey toward healing. and the king is crowned. lebron james shatters a sports record some called unbreakable. >> lebron james, his shot at history -- and there it is! >> but not before going one on one with michael strahan.

>> i want my legacy to be that that played against me knew i played the game the right way. >> and what about his hoop dream of playing alongside his son? plus material girl. madonna, the queen of pop, at the center of controversy and conversation. not for her music but for her appearance at the grammys. >> it just seemed to be open season on this woman. >> she calls it a clear-cut case of ageism and some agree. >> how is it fair for us to judge people like madonna for just getting older? ♪ make him express ♪ >> is this just the "express yourself" singer's latest provocation? still living with odors? get back in there and freshen instantly with new febreze air mist. febreze's new, finer mist floats longer in the air to fight even your toughest odors. so long stinky smells and hello amazing freshness. discover the new febreze scents today! my most important kitchen tool? my brain.

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♪ good evening. thank you for joining us. tonight, rare interviews with the victims in a shocking story that made national headlines. their abuser is a master manipulator who took up residence in his daughter's college dorm just north of new york city. then took control of their lives. what happened was both brutal and criminal. here's abc's linsey davis. >> reporter: it was a harrowing tale that defied belief. a 50-year-old father, larry ray,

moves into his daughter's on-campus housing at sarah lawrence college living alongside her friends like daniel levin. >> he was really capable of reading my insecurities, my fears, and my ambitions and the things that i wanted out of life. and really validating me. >> reporter: eventually some of those friends would fall under ray's spell. the college has previously said that officials did not know ray was staying in on-campus housing and the crimes for which this man has been indicted did not occur at sarah lawrence, even though he appears to have met sell of his victims while they were students here. the group moved into an an apartment on the upper east side where others would join, like felicia rosario. >> he was a master at weaponizing my fear. so he leveraged my fears of being alone, of being abandoned. >> reporter: last month, 63-year-old ray was sentenced to

60 years in prison for crimes including extortion, sex trafficking, and forced labor. horror all captured on hours upon hours of disturbing videos. >> please! >> reporter: many of them made by ray himself, presented at trial. >> police coming, they told me before -- >> reporter: showing mental, emotional, and physical abuse. >> one more time. put your tongue in here. you understand me? >> horrifying footage. when i watch it, i feel so bad for that person who's going through that. >> reporter: now the depths of ray's crimes are featured in a new hulu documentary series "stolen youth" through interviews with victims. >> he would cut up adderall. he would keep us awake for long periods of time. >> using us against each other to erode any sense of trust. >> many people as i think you would admit would say, why didn't you just leave? >> i was convinced that if i was uncomfortable, if something felt bad to me, that that was because

of something that was wrong with me. because everyone else seemed fine with it. >> reporter: daniel lived under ray's spell for two years before ultimately walking away in 2013. felicia moved in months before he left. >> i started to believe what he told me about me. >> reporter: incredibly, stolen youth captures felicea in realtime as she grapples mentally and emotionally over leaving her abuser. >> i love you very much. >> reporter: the harvard grad and columbia med school graduate abandoned her psychiatry residency in los angeles to move to new york and live with ray, her new boyfriend. >> he wouldn't let me sleep. he controlled what i was eating. he would yell at me, he would beat me. >> i want you down on the floor. felicia, lay down. >> he took away everything that made me me. >> at what point did you decide, enough?

>> i didn't. the fbi came. the fbi came and arrested him, thankfully. it took them coming to get him for me to be able to even consider having a life again. >> reporter: today, felicia relies on therapy and the support of family and friends like daniel while continuing to heal. >> hello. >> reporter: the friends, sitting down with "impact on nightline" in a rare interview. >> each of us would hear different stories on the same thing. so we would all believe different things. but now that we're all out and we can talk freely, it's so validating. >> it feels like telling our story is both about overcoming that shame and really taking that power back. it feels scary to call yourself a cult survivor, right? because of the stigma. >> reporter: breaking that stigma and building the next

phases of their lives. >> i'm so grateful to be free, to be alive, that i'm going to enjoy it. >> our thanks to linsey. if you're experiencing suicidal, substance use, or other mental health crises call or text 988. you'll reach a trained counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. also 988lifeline.org. check out impact by "nightline" streaming on hulu on thursday, february 16th. and the docuseries "stolen youth: inside cult at sarah lawrence" launches tomorrow on hulu. we turn to the world of sports and the king of the court claiming the historic scoring crown. hyped since high school, lebron james was either destined for disaster or greatness. i think we know the answer. he went one on one with abc's

michael strahan. >> it's one of those records that when you look at it you go, nobody's ever going to touch that. >> yeah. >> but you're about to touch it. >> this is the record. >> lebron james, a shot at history -- >> reporter: it's a record many thought would never be broken. the all-time nba scoring record. one of the most revered records in basketball history. but four-time mvp lebron james changed that last night. >> lebron stands alone! the nba's all-time scoring record now belongs to lebron james! >> something i've always dreamed about. and i would never, ever in a million years have dreamt this even better than what it is tonight. >> reporter: lebron scoring the historic bucket, his 38,388th career point. >> what does that mean to you? >> you know -- the crazy thing is, man -- i've never -- i've

had goals throughout my whole career. you know. on the court. i wanted to be the rookie of the year my rookie year. i wanted to be an all-star. i wanted to win championships. i wanted to be the mvp of the league. i wanted to be defensive player of the year. i wanted to lead the league in assists. i never, ever was like, i want to break the all-time scoring record. that's never, ever been a thought of mine. and the fact that i'm really -- i'm literally right here. it is -- it's mind-blowing. >> reporter: last week with a little over an hour to game time -- >> what's up, big boy? >> reporter: i met up with the king as he prepared to take on the knicks at madison square garden. it's been three years since the nba champ stepped into this court. surprisingly, his favorite. >> we're here at madison square garden, 4 self-proclaimed favorite place. what makes the garden special to you? >> the history, man. i think not only what's happened in this building over the years,

but also the city. i come here for a broadway show, i'm part of the cast. >> reporter: born in akron, ohio, lebron was drafted by the cleveland cavaliers in 2003, becoming a franchise star, leading the cavs to their first nba finals ever in 2007. in 2010, he famously shocked the sports world by joining the miami heat as a free agent, announcing his departure in the live tv special is "the decision." >> i'll take my talents to south beach and join the miami heat. >> reporter: winning two championships in florida. four years after that, he rejoined the cavs to win the team's first-ever title in 2016. since 2018, lebron has been an l.a. laker. and it's in los angeles that he's making nba history. one of the greats, lakers legend kareem abdul-jabbar, who

previously held the scoring record with 38,387 career points. the two basketball icons sharing the historic moment together. >> this is a complete honor to be a part of this league, be a part of some of the greats that ever played this game. for me to be right there at the, you know, at the apex with them. >> so for you, breaking this record, you think that solidifies you as the greatest to ever play the game of basketball? >> i don't know if the record does. the one thing i can tell you, mike, i've always prided myself on saying, i want to be the greatest ever to play this game. and i want to -- that came from a motivation to myself, like a drive to be the greatest of all time. >> reporter: while he leads the lakers on the court, he's got another big job at home. raising three kids, bronny, bryce, and zuri, with his wife, savannah. >> you're on the cover of "sports illustrated," "the chosen one." now 20 years later, you're on the cover with your sons, man.

>> yeah, man. >> bronny and bryce. "the chosen sons." you're looking forward to sharing the nba court with bronny? >> yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> that means you're going to stick around for a few years, right? >> yeah, yeah, yeah. i'll be around. i said, i did my part, now you've got to do your part. i don't know how much longer, you've got to be doing your part. >> how about bryce? 26, 27? >> oh my goodness. oh my goodness. listen, listen, if that's what i got to do. >> what do you want your legacy to be? >> i want my legacy to be that all my teammates and the people that played against me knew i played the game the right way and i competed at a high level. i never cheated a game. i never cheated a process. but for me, off the floor, i think me having my own school in my hometown, me inspiring kids all over the world, being active, politics at times or social justice. things that goes on in regular life. those are the things that i hope people talk about as well are because those are things that

last forever. >> reporter: at just 38 years old, just a few years shy of becoming the oldest active nba player, fans can't help but wonder when will the king be hanging up his crown? >> no, i ain't there yet. i ain't there yet. my wife wishes i was there, though. a little bit more time left. a little bit more time left. >> our thanks to michael. up next, the controversy and the conversation over madonna's appearance at the grammys. and why the "hung up" singer is hitting back. my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis... the burning, itching. the pain. emerge tremfyant®. with tremfya®, most people saw 90% clearer skin at 16 weeks. the majority of people saw 90% clearer skin even at 5 years. serious allergic reactions may occur. tremfya® may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms or if you had a vaccine or plan to. emerge tremfyant®. with tremfya®.

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she is an artist who has repeatedly reinvented herself throughout her superstar career. but the spotlight for madonna took an unexpected turn at the grammys, ignited a passionate debate. here's abc's deborah roberts. >> reporter: for more than four decades, madonna has broken barriers. ♪ you armas tree ♪ >> reporter: in music and culture. from taking on the catholic church in her video "just like a prayer" -- ♪ just like a prayer ♪ >> reporter: to appearing in that iconic cone bra in her "blond ambition" tour. the pop star has never shied away from controversy. >> she was much more explicitly outspoken about sex and being a strong woman. one of the first pop stars in her position to use that as a form of power. >> madonna is a provocateur more than anything else. i see her more as a performance artist, as someone who is using her platform to shock, to cause conversation, to provoke.

and she's doing it again. >> reporter: then on sunday night at the grammys, madonna grabbing headlines again. this time for her looks. >> if they call you shocking, scandalous, dangerous -- you are definitely on to something. >> reporter: some calling her face unrecognizable. criticizing her on social media. >> i saw on social media the day after that grammy speech some of the worst things i've ever seen people say about anyone. and it just seemed to be open season on this woman who, you know, really hadn't done anything very different from a lot of women. >> in all fairness, she did look strikingly different. >> i think that her whole look is what performers do. they change themselves. to shock and delight us and entertain us. >> reporter: yesterday, madonna clapping back on instagram writing, "i am caught in the

glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in" and attributing her appearance to a long-lens camera she said would distort anyone's face. >> this is absolutely peak madonna behavior. just f-u, i'm doing what i want, all you haters are just -- you know, you're not right, you're not going to win. >> reporter: the controversy reigniting a fierce debate about women and aging. but is it right for madonna to be an example of somebody to spark a discussion about ageism when she always likes to provoke? >> she is the person who does it, so why not? i mean, ageism is really pernicious in our culture and permeates our culture and is life-ruining for a lot of people who lose jobs, who lose respect, who lose relationships because people think they're too old. >> reporter: the pop iconhengqu claiming her sexy image well into her 60s.

and unapologetic about her age at a billboard women in music event in 2016. >> to age is a sin. you will be criticized. you will be vilified. and you will definitely not be played on the radio. i think the most controversial thing i have ever done is to stick around. >> reporter: 64-year-old madonna has long been outspoken about ageism and misogyny in entertainment. >> talking about it as far back as 1992 on "tonight with jonathan ross." >> once you reach a certain age, you're not allowed to be adventurous, you're not allowed to be sexual. what, are you supposed to just die when you're 40? >> what is it in us that we can't seem to accept this? >> i think people are afraid of getting old. i think for a lot of people it's very hard to see the icon of their youth, madonna, aging. but she's not going gentle into that good

>> reporter: reinvention madonna's trademark since she burst on the early scene in the early '80s. each new album heralding a new incarnation of the queen of pop. from seductive alter ego mistress dia to the warm earth mother in "ray of light," madonna has been quick to change with the times as long as she can still command attention. >> madonna! >> yeah? -- i dare you to do a world tour and play your greatest [ bleep ] hits. >> reporter: recently the superstar announcing an upcoming international tour. >> you think people would come to that show? >> i'll be there. >> we'll all be there. >> people are getting upset over this discussion, but in some ways maybe madonna is getting the last laugh. >> we'll see how her concert tour does. >> '80s, '90s, 2000s, four decades of music. >> 50 cent in a post called her grandma. grandma isn't necessarily just

baking apple pies and putting on a house dress and sensible shoes and calling it a day. there are a lot of grandmas out there who are having the time of their lives and dating younger men and having vibrant careers. grandma can still have a really great life. >> some may be at madonna's concert. >> yes. i'm not a grandma, but i hope to be there. >> our thanks to deborah. coming up, the rock star conductor blazing a new path in classical music. ♪ moderate to severe eczema still disrupts my skin. despite treatment it disrupts my skin with itch. it disrupts my skin with rash. but now, i can disrupt eczema with rinvoq. rinvoq is not a steroid, topical, or injection. it's one pill, once a day, that's effective without topical steroids. many taking rinvoq

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finally tonight, a major musical announcement. ♪ 42-year-old venezuelan gustavo dudamel will be the next leader of the new york fill harmanic, first latino to head the orchestra since its founding in 1842. ♪ music to our ears. that's "nightline" for this evening. see you right back here same time tomorrow. thanks for the company, america. good night.