Amidst TikTok Ban, Watch This Documentary About a TikTok Cult and the Horrors Around It on Netflix

Published 01/19/2025, 12:12 AM EST

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The US has been burrowing deep into the complexities of Chinese tech behemoths, and after months of deliberation, the looming TikTok ban has left users worldwide on edge. As the trendsetting titan that catapulted quirky moments to viral fame, TikTok bridged the gap between the masses and the A-list celebrities, inviting all to unleash their playful personas. Although the ban’s specter is not novel, recent developments hinting at a potential shutdown have sparked a fascinating recollection of a Netflix masterpiece.

Just in time for the possible suspension, fans must give this documentary a watch, serving as a fitting piece of streaming nugget that recounts the real horrors surrounding a cult.

A must-watch Netflix documentary amidst TikTok’s uncertain survival

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A Netflix documentary, Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, released in May last year on the streaming giant centers on cult allegations against 7M Films, a talent management company. The three-episodic docuseries uncover the history of 7M films and founder Robert Israel Shinn. It follows the life of Miranda Derrick, previously known as Miranda Wilking, a TikTok dancer, who gained millions of followers by making videos with her sister, Melani, before being recruited by the “church-affiliated talent management company.”

Derek Doneen directed Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, narrating Miranda Wilking and the story of several other dancers who were recruited and ripped apart from their families by the Los Angeles-based company. In 2022, Melanie Wilking and her parents made headlines for publicly declaring 7M a cult, accusing them of manipulating and exploiting Miranda Wilking. The documentary features interviews from the Wilking family and testimonies from dancers who left 7M to take it down in the aftermath.

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The US’s intricate watch over the Chinese tech giants has previously forecasted a fumble for a Netflix favorite. However, with the TikTok ban gaining momentum, here is more information on the 7M cult featured in the docuseries.

What is the 7M cult in Dancing for the Devil on Netflix?

According to Tudum by Netflix, 7M was launched as a secular management company. However, the CEO, Robert Israel Shinn, made it an extension of the church he presided over: Shekinah. As per the dancers’ revelation who had parted ways with the organization, the founder allegedly exercised extreme authority over them in terms of their dance routines, financial decisions, and going as far as mandating them to give a substantial portion of earnings to the church.

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Several dancers also leveled the allegations that they were made to sever ties with their families who were not involved in 7M and Shekinah. Not only employees but church members have also stood against Shinn’s controlling tendencies. Although a TikTok ban may or may not materialize full-fledged, this may be the right time to watch Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult.

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Have you watched Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!

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Anushka Bhattacharya

1831 articles

I'm Anushka Bhattacharya, an entertainment journalist at Netflix Junkie. Armed with a degree in literature, I once wielded my words to catalyze change within society through my work with NGOs. However, as I stumbled into the exuberant hole of crime thrillers and documentaries on Netflix, it was love at first sight and pushed me into entertainment journalism.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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