Current:Home > MyWho are the Wilking sisters? Miranda, Melanie in 'Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult'-LoTradeCoin
Who are the Wilking sisters? Miranda, Melanie in 'Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult'
View Date:2025-01-11 03:18:28
The relationship between two sisters is featured in a new Netflix docuseries that focuses on a group of dancers and their church-affiliated talent management company, which some people have alleged is a cult.
"Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult" premiered on Netflix this week. The documentary series, directed by Derek Doneen, tells the story of Miranda Wilking and other dancers who ended up associated with the Los Angeles-based 7M Films management company under owner Robert Shinn.
Shinn is also a pastor at Shekinah Church, and has previously been accused of controlling behavior.
Here's what to know about the Wilking family and the documentary series.
Looking for something to watch?From 'Atlas' to 'Dune 2,' here are 10 movies you need to stream right now
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
How to stream 'Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult'
The three-part documentary series began streaming on Netflix Wednesday May 29 at 3 a.m. EDT.
What is 'Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult' about?
Here's what the three-part documentary series is about, according to a synopsis from Netflix:
"A group of prominent TikTok dancers are trapped in a cult masquerading as a management company called 7M. Among them is Miranda Wilking, whose family is desperately trying to get their daughter out. As other dancers and former members escape and work to rebuild their lives, it isn’t until they come together to try and put a stop to the cycle of their abuser that the real healing begins."
"Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult" also includes testimonies from dancers and others who have left 7M Films.
This series is about exposing the wrongdoers and setting the story straight, all with the hope of helping those still under the control of the church,” executive producer Jessica Acevedo told Netflix's Tudum.
Who are Miranda and Melanie Wilking?
Part of the documentary series focused on the sisters Miranda and Melanie Wilking, and their parents, Kelly and Dean.
Melanie Wilking is creator with over 3.5 million followers on TikTok whose content primarily focuses around dancing and lifestyle videos. She married Austin Ekeler, a running back for the Washington Commanders in May in Las Vegas.
Melanie, Kelly and Dean Wilking posted a video on social media in February 2022 saying that they had not seen or heard from Miranda in over a year and she was involved in a religious group, in what they called a "cult." In the video, Melanie Wilking said she had been part of the group and church at first, but had left the organization.
"These people are not controlling their lives," Melanie Wilking said in the video. Someone else is controlling their lives and they are all victims of this. It would be so easy to forget...if she doesn't care about us anymore, but we know that's not her."
Who is Robert Shinn?
Shinn, the leader of the management company 7M Films and a pastor at Shekinah Church is at the center of allegations in the "Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult" documentary series.
The church was founded in 1994, a post from 7M Films reads.
In March, Aubrey Fisher-Greene, Kylie Douglas, Kevin “Konkrete” Davis joined four other complainants, suing Shinn and accusing him of running a "cult" and taking advantage of his followers, Rolling Stone reported. The recent additions are part of an ongoing lawsuit that began in 2022 with Shinn filed a complaint alleging a former member had extorted and defamed him.
In a cross-complaint, Shinn was alleged to have exercised control over the lives of his church members in various ways, from financial to health-related and more, Rolling Stone reported.
What is 7M Films?
Shinn reportedly founded 7M Films in 2021.
According to the company's website, "7M Films, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based talent management company representing some of the top social media influencers in the world. Since 7M was founded in 2021, the collective social media following of our clients has grown from 1.78 million to 10.42 million. 7M’s client roster includes professional dancers, actors, models and music industry professionals."
A statement and the only post on 7M's Instagram reads that you "do not have to be a member of Shekinah Church to be represented by 7M, not do you have to be represented by 7M to be a member of Shekinah Church. Any claims to the contrary are simply wrong."
veryGood! (5553)
Related
- Artem Chigvintsev Returns to Dancing With the Stars Ballroom Amid Nikki Garcia Divorce
- Americans say money can buy happiness. Here's their price tag.
- 'We're all one big ohana': Why it was important to keep the Maui Invitational in Hawaii
- 49ers lose All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga for season due to torn ACL
- Tesla Cybertruck modifications upgrade EV to a sci-fi police vehicle
- Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark to join ManningCast Monday night on ESPN2 for Chiefs-Eagles
- Horoscopes Today, November 20, 2023
- Taylor Swift’s Rio tour marred by deaths, muggings and a dangerous heat wave
- Lee Zeldin, Trump’s EPA Pick, Brings a Moderate Face to a Radical Game Plan
- 2-year-old injured after firing gun he pulled from his mother's purse inside Ohio Walmart
Ranking
- 1 million migrants in the US rely on temporary protections that Trump could target
- Remains found in Arizona desert in 1992 identified as missing girl; police investigate possible link to serial killer
- Nearly 1,000 Rohingya refugees arrive by boat in Indonesia’s Aceh region in one week
- Boat crammed with Rohingya refugees, including women and children, sent back to sea in Indonesia
- Avril Lavigne’s Ex Mod Sun Is Dating Love Is Blind Star Brittany Wisniewski, Debuts Romance With a Kiss
- Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins says he's 'not a fan of the Jets' after postgame skirmish
- Closer than we have been to deal between Hamas and Israel on hostage release, White House official says
- Celebrating lives, reflecting on loss: How LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones are marking Trans Day of Remembrance
Recommendation
-
Wall Street makes wagers on the likely winners and losers in a second Trump term
-
What’s open and closed on Thanksgiving this year?
-
Taylor Swift fan dies at Rio concert amid complaints about excessive heat
-
Mariah Carey’s 12-Year-Old Twins Deserve an Award for This Sweet Billboard Music Awards 2023 Moment
-
Flurry of contract deals come as railroads, unions see Trump’s election looming over talks
-
Musk’s X sues liberal advocacy group Media Matters over its report on ads next to hate groups’ posts
-
Chase Chrisley Debuts New Romance 4 Months After Emmy Medders Breakup
-
As Taylor Swift cheers for Travis Kelce and Chiefs, some Eagles fans feel 'betrayed'