Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult
Summary
Netflix’sDancing for the Devil : The 7 M TikTok Cultbrings to light some shocking pieces of information fence in the allege cult within the Shekinah Church . The docuseries is separate into three parts and try out the past and present behavior of Robert Shinn , a Los Angeles parson , through the story of two pairs of sisters . In the present day , Melanie Wilking is interested about her sister Miranda , who joined the churchafter signing with Shinn ’s management troupe , 7 M Films . The Lee sisters , Melanie and Priscylla , are former members of the Shekinah Church and detail their trouble with Shinn .
The docuseries comes afterMelanie and her sept brought their concerns about Miranda onto the net . The sis duo ’s online platform helped bring increased care to Shinn ’s so-called cultus - like operation . Due to the Wilking family ’s efforts , many former appendage of the Shekinah Church are featured inNetflix ’s honest offence docuseries , bringing their experience onwards . 7 M and the Shekinah Church are still manoeuvre under Shinn , andDancing for the Devilintroduces crucial item about his leadership .
One of the most challenging facet of true crime , cult documentaries are equal function fascinating and horrifying . What are the best ones to see ?
This article contains abbreviated mention of intimate abuse .
10Robert Shinn Acts As Pastor And Manager
His positions in both organizations allow for more control.
The oddity of Robert Shinn ’s locating is made exonerated from the beginning ofDancing for the Devil . Melanie and former fellow member explain that Shinn is the CEO of 7 M Films and a minister of religion for the Shekinah Church . The direction company was founded in 2021 andShinn has used his influence as a pastor to bring a mix of up - and - coming terpsichorean in Los Angeles to the church .
Due to his two leadership roles fusing , it became easygoing for Shinn to take advantage of members ' finance . Before starting 7 M , Shinn took vantage of the church building ’s members by force them to work at one of his multiple businesses where they receive insufficient wage . However , with 7M , Shinn asks that dancers give up part of their earnings for various reasons , such as 20 % for management fees and 30 % towards the Christian church .
9Miranda’s Absence Was Uncharacteristic
She was close with her family before joining the cult.
The Wilking family is the docuseries ' entrance full stop into the deeper account of Shinn and his leadership at the Shekinah Church , as Miranda Wilking ’s length from her family was unlike her . The further Miranda got involved with the church service , the less she spoke to her phratry . ThroughoutDancing for the Devil , home video were shown asthe Wilking family line recounted memories with Miranda , emphasizing the noticeable shift in her personalitysince contract with 7 M and connect the Christian church .
After bringing their concerns to the public via social media , the Wilking family get through other dancers who had recently left the grouping and former church building member , most notably the Lee sister , Melanie and Priscylla . Miranda ’s familypushed hard for her to pass home after learning more about Shinn ’s control and abuse of power . The last installment ofDancing for the Devilshows the radical ’s effort to litigate Shinn and get him arrest .
8Church Members Were Told To Die To Their Families
Members were made to believe cutting ties led to their loved one’s salvation.
As heartbreaking as Miranda ’s distance from her fellowship is , it ’s not an set-apart incident . Shinn recite all church member that it ’s necessary for them to " die to " the things and the people they sleep together . Shinn ’s teachings say that when members die to their families , cut off all communication with them , they offer redemption for their sleep with unity and secure their office in heaven one day . InDancing for the Devil , former Shekinah and 7 M fellow member Kevin " Konkrete " Davis name how Shinn told him to save his son by " dying to " him .
A similar tactic was used with Melanie and Priscylla during their fourth dimension with Shekinah . Once Melanie had managed to leave the church , Shinn convinced Priscylla that her baby was cursed . frightful and believing his words , Priscylla did n’t speak to her sis until calendar month after she give the church herself .
7Church Members Didn’t Have Direct Access To Robert
The initial power imbalance created a desire among members to get close to Robert.
There was a turgid common sense of exclusivity within the Shekinah Church . Melanie call in early on in the docuseries thatattendance of the church service ’s Robert William Service was by invitation only . One twenty-four hours when Shinn and his daughter , Kloe , insisted that Melanie wait on a overhaul at the last minute , she became suspicious of their behavior and stopped associating with the Shinns or other church members .
Still , the exclusive nature and power structure within the grouping continued for member of the church . Labeling himself as a " Man of God,“members did not have lineal access to Shinn and were only able to touch him through religious mentorsof the church . Shinn achieved greater control by secluding himself from others and present himself as a holy man . Members were heroic to earn his blessing . As Konkrete said , " Everybody wanted to get faithful to the Man of God so we could have these heavenly blessings that he ’s talking about . "
6Robert Tried To Break Into Hollywood
To earn more money, Robert found himself in the entertainment industry.
Many of Shinn ’s motives are ride by his desire for money and before starting the 7 M Films endowment direction company , Shinn undertake to make a name for himself in Hollywood . Shinn worked as an executive producer on a few humble filmsand brought close members of the church with him on his journey of amusement fame . Daniel , a former member and secretary of the Shekinah Church , had a few underage acting roles and Kloe had a short singing career .
None of these attempt were capable to stagger in the income Shinn was hoping for , but he finally found it with 7M. Shinn ’s financial using accelerated after finding success with the talent direction company . Shinn has take advantage of the sign dancers who have a following but are for the most part inexperient , by providing career - boosting opportunity . However , a large portion of the dancer ’s earnings are given to Shinn and the church building .
5Members Of Shekinah Church Signed NDAs
Members of the church began to feel doubtful about Robert due to increased secrecy.
The livestream by the Wilking family in which they verbalize their concern for Miranda gained a lot of care due to the babe ’s presence on societal media . The suspicion andworry that Miranda may be in a fad result in numerous societal media accounts being create to expose Shinnand other members of the Shekinah Church . The audio recordings of Shinn ’s sermons , as presented inDancing for the Devil , break a unagitated and confident pastor who see there ’s no truth to any of the claims and reminds penis that the inflow of tending is a good thing .
However , former members present for the docuseries , such as Konkrete and Kylie Douglas , say that they were made to sign non - disclosure agreements . The absolute defence from Shinn conflict with reports and experience from former member , making many wary of Shinn ’s Holy Scripture . The church ’s enforced secrecy andclaims from former churchgoers confirm to some members that they were in a fad .
4Established Church Rules Were Reversed
Members were able to communicate and see their families to help with the church’s image.
On one hand , they were happy to be reunited after having not heard anything from Miranda , including details about her wedding which they missed out on . However , Miranda made it known to her folk that she did not want to discourse her affiliation with Shekinah . The Wilking family are thankful to see Miranda but are still cognisant that the reason they get to do so is only to avail Shinn and the church ’s public trope . It seems thatShinn believes if members get to see their household and friends , there ’s no ground for them to make incriminating postsabout Shekinah .
3Miranda’s Interactions With Her Family Were For Social Media
Many of the Wilkings' interactions felt forced and superficial.
After the Wilkings go live and Shinn leave Miranda to see them , their first clip seeing one another was livestreamed on Miranda ’s social media , per Shinn ’s request . Miranda fell back home with her hubby and fellow Shekinah Church member , James " BDash " Derrick . Once the couple arrived at their get together spot with the Wilking parents , Miranda began the livestream and pointed her phone at them , saying , " Since they require to make our lives public , we ’re going to go live . "
Miranda then asked that her parent take down their social mass medium Emily Price Post regarding the church , but Kelly and Dean Wilking turn down . It was clear to the Wilking parent thattheir meeting was n’t unfeigned and was only to correct public perceptual experience of the church building , much like many of their future meetings were . Whenever Miranda occur home for the holidays , everything was document and posted online , which left her menage , especially Melanie , feel as though Miranda still had n’t amply come back to her typical self .
2Shinn Faced Claims Of Sexual Abuse
Robert abused religion and his status to make advancements towards women.
In the wake of title regarding Shinn ’s intimate advance towards members of the Christian church , Shekinah ’s voice and Shinn ’s babe , Catherine , ask that he take responsibility for his action mechanism . Shinn attributed his behavior to his natural impulse as a man , and though many women , including Catherine , left the Christian church because of the claim , others honor his explanation and stayed . Unfortunately , Shinn ’s status as a " Man of God " and members longing for his blessing allowed his conduct to preserve .
InDancing for the Devil , Priscylla break down and detail her encounters with Shinn . She often feel physically sick after being forced to massage him , but when she ’d bring up her symptoms to Shinn , he ’d explain it as a purification process . According to Shinn , the illness that Priscylla was feel was the demons within her being kick out , and this cleanse was needed if she care to be in heaven one day .
1A Prior Suit Against Shinn Was Unsuccessful
The Wilking family is hopeful about their case despite a previous suit against Shekinah.
Before the current and on-going suit against Shinn , he ’d been sued before by another passee - Shekinah penis . However , it was hard to legally hold Shinn accountable because of the member ’s unforced involvement and the limits of the First Amendment . Still , the individuals inDancing for the Devilare hopeful they ’ll be able to bring in justness .
Custom Image by Yeider Chacon
