Netflix's Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult & How Cults Still Exist

Netflix's Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult & How Cults Still Exist

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re breaking down the shocking Netflix documentary series “Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult” in order to investigate how the cult got started, how it operates, and how it’s still recruiting members today.

When the story of the 7M cult went viral, it was shrouded in mystery and countering stories that swayed public opinion back and forth. But now, through the lens of the series and new testimonies, we have a clearer picture of what’s really going on behind the scenes. So let's unpack the inner workings of the TikTok cult that operates right in front of our eyes, and finally shine a light on the truth.

CULTS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

News first broke when the family of dance influencer Miranda Wilking launched a campaign to expose the 7M talent management company as a front for a sinister cult. Founded by the head of California-based Shekinah Church, Robert Shinn, the organization and the pastor himself are accused of a myriad of abuses—fusing religious teachings with a profitable business venture to ensnare dozens of dancers, models and actors. Although the group rejects the term “cult,” “Dancing for the Devil” finally gives a voice to the survivors, who are more than eager to share their side of the story as they attempt to deprogram themselves and return to the real world.

One of the most striking aspects of the whole case is the way Robert updates the mechanics of his cult for this digital era. When we think of cults, they often feel like a thing of the past—The Manson Family, Heaven's Gate, The People’s Temple. At their peak of popularity in the ‘60s and ‘70s, there was a sense that the listless young people who were brainwashed into obedience had no idea what they were getting into, since the phenomenon was only just garnering major media attention. Today, however, the blueprints of cults have been thoroughly investigated in countless TV specials and books, so it feels highly unlikely for them to continue to successfully prey on society. But as the times change, so does the nature of these cults that are surprisingly still around in shocking numbers. So how does a cult modernize?

It all begins with the initial recruitment. Gone are the days of hippies being lured into an off-the-grid commune and manipulated through psychedelic experimentation. In the case of 7M, members are contacted through social media and invited to join the talent management company because of their growing internet presence and fame. Next, comes the promise. In a world where breaking through as an artist and hitting it big on social media is becoming increasingly competitive, 7M offers young stars a guaranteed ticket into the limelight. Then, comes the hook: a twist that many of the dance crew members were willing to accept for a chance to make it.

Although the company was only founded by Robert in 2021, he had been leading Shekinah Church since 1994. Shockingly, when we meet Priscylla and Melanie, who have been around since the church’s inception, we learn that Robert had long held a grip over his devout followers, and was utilizing 7M to take his cult of personality to the next level. Robert attracted the dancers who serve as the focus of the documentary by preying on their interest in spirituality and how that blends with the art of dance. Like many false prophet cult leaders before him, he used sermon to convince his newfound followers that he spoke for God, and that members of his church receive blessings. These manifested as the healing of physical ailments back in the early days. But today, they now come in the form of viral success, connections, and enticing deals that would advance the dancers careers. Why fight for your next breakthrough when you have a God on your side who takes the guesswork out of the algorithm and simply grants it to you? It’s this update to the divine rules that proves just how cunning Robert could be.

And so begins the next stage of a modern cult’s scheme: control, which requires isolation. Members were encouraged to sever ties with family and devote themselves to 7M. By convincing them that this new family was going to earn them the life they wanted and a way into heaven, Robert was able to disconnect his prey from the reality they once knew. Though plenty of dancers, like Miranda’s sister Melanie, were immediately sketched out and left, others were sadly suckered in. They were moved into large homes and immediately put to work, pumping out TikToks to earn Robert fortunes. Like other content houses that have come under fire for hostile or unfair work conditions, Robert too faced criticism for a number of abuses, most notably labor trafficking. On top of the management fees, members were coerced into offering up more of their income as donations to the church—or really, Robert’s wallet.

Just as their finances were being managed, so too was their online presence. Recent scrutiny over how much access stars have to their own social media, like with the Free Britney movement, also pops up here. Just as cult leaders of the past maintained control by curating the way their followers presented themselves, Robert updated the cult leader handbook to moderate his disciples’ social media activity and communication with family. Once Miranda’s family went live with these details and word began to spread, Robert reacted in real-time, weaponizing his victims’ social media to rally angry internet mobs and smear her concerned family as racist liars who don’t have a relationship with their daughter because they disapproved of her black boyfriend. Robert would employ this reactionary tactic again when the internet decided that his emphasis on dying to your loved ones was a little too cult-like. So in the modern cult, rather than penning novel-length manifestos to desperately get a view across, the live, interactive nature of social media has become a tool to amplify the leader's outreach and strengthen their iron grip.

Sadly, this is only the beginning of Robert’s abuse. Members also accuse Robert of soliciting massages and other favors in exchange for everything he’s done for them. With all this toxic behavior in mind, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would stay. But the survivors spell it out clearly. By being close to Robert, you were closer to both heaven and power, and if you were to leave him you would suffer a miserable fate. To leave was not just a condemnation of oneself, but to forever part ways with other members of the church who had become like family, or maybe even were family. Religiosity was also used against his people, who could not imagine that someone who appeared so kind and giving, perhaps even having the spirit of God within him, could really be a monster. Robert was even careful to control the circulation of information within the cult, discouraging members from speaking to each other about their experiences so that they would remain under his spell. With all these atrocities coming to light, surely Robert can finally be brought to justice, right? Well, not so fast.

HOW TO CULL THE CULT

With former members and the families of those still trapped in the cult all coming together to compare stories and share evidence, the fight for justice is fully underway. But holding Robert accountable won’t be as easy as you’d think. A former case against Robert was tossed because the judge felt that, given the religious context, a protection of the First Amendment applied and there was no rendering of undue influence. It’s even acknowledged that a civil lawsuit won’t necessarily stop Robert, so the documentary tracks the victims’ efforts to open a criminal case that would force him to serve jail time. However, every hotline call or meeting with a government agent provides a new roadblock, especially when it comes to the allegations of assault. Despite what seems like a mountain of evidence, victims are told time and time again that it’s not enough.

“Dancing for the Devil” highlights the failings of the justice system, and the red tape that allows Robert to continue to operate his cult by skirting punishment on technicalities. There’s a numbing feeling of hopelessness, with some of the people involved admitting that they’ve run into a wall. In one of the most heartbreaking arcs of the series, Priscylla is left struggling to pick up the pieces as she reenters the real world after all those years in the church. And this crushing weight makes it difficult to imagine taking on a tricky legal system that creates so many hurdles for victims trying to build a case. But despite all odds, the fight continues. By levying this collective insight into the 7M cult and encouraging those hypnotized by viscous cult leaders to speak out, perhaps this can be the great push that finally brings Robert closer to justice, and blocks digital cults like 7M from ever forming again.

What was the reveal in “Dancing for the Devil” that shocked you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below.