A preferred true-crime docuseries a couple of suspected TikTok cult ended with a household’s seemingly reluctant acceptance that they misplaced their beloved one.
One of the final scenes of “Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult” reveals Miranda (Wilking) Derrick’s dad and mom on the ground video-chatting with their daughter, grandchild and son-in-law, with the understanding nobody mentions the Los Angeles church and its chief, who’s accused of operating a cult of “brainwashed” dancers.Â
Miranda’s sister, Melanie Wilking, stated she’s accepted that her marriage ceremony dream along with her sister as her maid of honor will not occur.
It’s just like the stormy seas have settled, however there’s nonetheless a harmful undercurrent beneath the floor that is swallowing more victims, cult professional Dr. Steven Hassan warned.
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Melanie Wilking (heart) is flanked by her dad and mom in a 2022 Instagram stay video desperately interesting to get her sister Miranda Wilking’s consideration to come back house. (Melanie Wilking/Instagram)
On paper, Robert Shinn is the pastor of a Los Angeles Shekinah Church who runs a dance manufacturing firm that Miranda and her husband James Derrick (amongst others) work for.Â
But former members stated in court filings that Shinn is a “self-proclaimed man of god” residing a lavish life on the backs of brainwashed TikTok dancers who are sexually abused and extorted.Â
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After the discharge of Netflix’s “Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult,” 7M Films stated in a press release on Instagram that the docuseries was “a slanderous work of fiction, born from a failed extortion attempt.”
It was posted on June 4, and it is nonetheless the one publish on the account. The firm did not return Fox News Digital’s request for remark.Â
7M Films’ response to the Netflix documentary accusing the top of the corporate, Robert Shinn, and 7M of being a cult is the one publish on the corporate’s Instagram. (7m.movies/Instagram)
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Hassan watched the three-part sequence, and stated Shinn and 7M have the traits of a quickly rising “brainwashing cult” that is disguised as a spiritual motion known as “New Apostolic Reformation” (NAR).
“What characterizes them differently from mainstream Christian evangelicals is that the leaders claim to be an apostle or a prophet, who gets direct revelations from God,” Hassan advised Fox News Digital.Â
“These cult leaders, in my opinion, say God speaks directly to them, and they typically speak in tongues and claim to cast out demons and claim to do faith healings.”
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All of these traits had been described by former members who had been interviewed within the documentary, in addition to in courtroom filings obtained and reviewed by Fox News Digital.Â
“In operating his ‘church,’ Robert (Shinn) preached that without him (former members who sued him) and other members of Shekinah would be cursed,” in accordance with a lawsuit in opposition to Shinn, 7M and several other others.
He satisfied his members — and former members — that in the event that they did not “fully submit to him, their lives and their families’ lives would be destroyed, and they would go to hell,” and this was their “last chance” to get to heaven “by rapture,” the authorized motion alleges.
Miranda (Wilking) Derrick offers her assertion on June 4 in an Instagram video. (itsmirandaderrick/Instagram)
These allegations had been included within the third amended criticism filed in May as the newest volley in a two-year tit-for-tat authorized bout between Shinn and 7 former members of his church.
Shinn fired the primary shot with defamation and commerce libel allegations in 2022, and the previous members counter-sued with 52 allegations, together with fraud, human trafficking, pressured labor, sexual assault and unjust enrichment, that they declare went on for virtually 20 years.Â
Shinn argued he had First Amendment safety as a spiritual group in a failed try and toss out the lawsuit.Â
The feuding sides are on a collision course, with a trial date scheduled for July 5, 2025.Â
“In operating his ‘church,’ Robert (Shinn) preached that without him … members of Shekinah would be cursed … (The) Shekinah was a member’s last chance into heaven by rapture.”
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Shimm and Miranda (Wilking) Derrick’s responsesÂ
Although Shinn hasn’t publicly responded, he denied the allegations in courtroom paperwork. His firm’s June 4 assertion on Instagram threatened to “pursue all legal remedies to stop the spread of salacious lies.”
Shinn’s attorneys did not instantly return Fox News Digital’s request for remark.Â
Miranda, who was featured prominently within the Netflix docuseries, shared a prolonged Instagram message (under) the identical day 7M Films issued its assertion.
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“I’m not a victim,” she stated, and pressured she’s not in any hurt. She known as the documentary a “public attack” that was “one-sided.”
“I love my Mom, Dad and Melanie, and they will forever be a part of my life. The truth is, we just don’t see eye to eye at this time,” Miranda stated.Â
“I gave my life to Jesus Christ in 2020 and asked my family for some space in the very beginning to collect my thoughts and process my new walk I wanted to take with God.”
Miranda (Wilking) Derrick’s Instagram story, posted on June 4 in response to the Netflix docuseries. (itsmirandaderrick/Instagram)
Miranda (Wilking) Derrick’s Instagram story, posted on June 4 in response to the Netflix docuseries. (itsmirandaderrick/Instagram)
Miranda went on to say she’s been assembly along with her household “to make amends,” which was alluded to within the docuseries, however her portrayal “created a further challenge” between her and her household.
“No one likes to be portrayed as their brainwashed/not in control of her own life/shell of herself/human trafficked daughter/sister when that just isn’t the truth,” she stated.
There’s an even bigger risk
Shinn, the Wilking household and the Shekinah Church are one case of what Hassan believes is a component of the NAR.
Modern teachings embody the “Seven Mountain Mandate,” which calls on followers to retake the seven “mountains” of cultural affect: faith, household, authorities, training, media, arts/leisure and enterprise.Â
The “Seven Mountain Mandate” is sometimes called “7M” for quick in analysis papers and scholarly articles.Â
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Justin Poythress, a pastor of All Saints Church in Boise, Idaho, wrote a critique in regards to the “Seven Mountain Mandate” in a July 2023 weblog publish.Â
“On one level, the spheres of influence the 7M mandate describes are a good summary of institutions that shape our culture,” Poyrthress wrote. “Anyone with strong convictions, whether conservative, liberal, Muslim, Jewish, or secular, naturally wants his values to be adopted and heralded on all seven ‘mountains.’
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“But the 7M mandate goes additional…. The perspective is finally constructed on a twin misunderstanding of Scripture and of Christ’s functions on the earth.”
Its recognition has grown from 20 % of American adults and 30 % of American Christian adults in March 2023 to 41 % by January 2024, in accordance with a May scholarly poll by Deninson University Professor Paul Djupe.Â
“New Apostolic Reformation” (NAR) has grown in popularity from 20 percent of American adults and 30 percent of American Christian adults in March 2023 to 41 percent by January 2024, according to a May scholarly poll by Deninson University Professor Paul Djupe. (Paul A. Djupe, Deninson University/Religion in Public)
Is there a criminal investigation?
The short answer is no.Â
The Attorney General’s Office said there are no written complaints about 7M or Shinn with the office, and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office didn’t immediately respond to questions.Â
Fox News Digital filed public records requests with the Los Angeles Police Department.Â
There is an online petition that has collected over 16,100 signatures imploring law enforcement to investigate and bring criminal charges against Shinn.Â
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“It is time for justice,” the online petition says. “We can’t enable somebody who preys on weak people below the guise of faith to proceed these heinous acts with out consequence.
“Sign this petition to demand that law enforcement in Los Angeles, CA & Pacoima, CA to take immediate action to open an investigation for Robert Shinn and his crimes.”
TikTok didn’t reply to Fox News Digital’s request for remark.
