TikToker Miranda Derrick Addresses Cult Allegations in ‘Dancing for the Devil’ Docuseries
Miranda Derrick is seeing the dark side of the internet.
The TikToker has been at the center of attention since the May release of Netflix’s docuseries Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, in which her family alleged she had cut ties with them three years ago after joining the talent management company 7M Films.
The organization—which Miranda joined alongside her husband James Derrick—was founded by Robert Shinn, a Los Angeles-based pastor with ties to the controversial Shekinah Church.
“Before this documentary, my husband and I, we felt safe,” Miranda said in a June 10 Instagram video. “Now that this documentary is out, we feel like our lives have been put in danger.”
The 27-year-old went on to detail how both she and James have been followed in their cars, as well as the hate mail and death threats they’ve received.
“Someone said that, ‘If I see you on the street, I’m going to come and gut you so you better get security,'” she shared. “Someone also said that, ‘If I see you walking on the sidewalk, I’m going to come and shove you in the trunk of my car.'”
In addition, Miranda noted that the documentary has driven a further wedge in her complicated relationship with her parents and sister Melanie Wilking.
“Honestly, I don’t understand how my parents and my sister thought that this documentary would help me,” she said, “or would help our relationship in any way.”
Amy Sussman/Getty Images
As discussed in the docuseries, the family has been trying to rebuild their relationship with Miranda, who they said reconnected with them last year after a lengthy silence. But following the documentary, Miranda said she feels hurt over their involvement with the project.
“Things are a little slower and I’m not posting as much,” she explained to her fans. “Just bear with me, I’m getting through this. I see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
While Miranda believes that the documentary is a “one-sided story,” her sister has a different take.
“They were reached out to many times,” Melanie told Access Hollywood of Miranda and James, 35. “And declined every time.”
Instagram/Miranda Derrick
The 25-year-old also refuted Miranda’s claims that the family was not supportive of her religious views, which focused more on God shortly after the influencer joined 7M in 2020.
“I went to two of their private dinners and two of the services that you have to be invited to, and I picked up on all these red flags,” Melanie said. “So, when she’s saying that we weren’t supportive, it was because I was seeing what she wasn’t seeing.”
Melanie, who is also a TikToker, alleged that the organization “wanted to rip us apart” after she stopped showing up to their events.
“And sure enough,” she noted, “look where we are.”
In a June 4 statement to E! News, 7M Films called the docuseries “a slanderous work of fiction, born from a failed extortion attempt, and invented for the sole purpose of gaining fame and fortune.”
“We will continue to pursue all legal remedies available to stop the spread of salacious lies,” the statement continued, “and expect to be fully vindicated in court.”
E! News has reached out to Shekinah Church for comment on the docuseries but has not heard back. Netflix declined to comment when reached by E!.
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