"MAN OF GOD"
Who is Shekinah Church pastor Robert Shinn from Netflix’s Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult?
Including the details of the civil lawsuit made against him
ROBERT Shinn is at the centre of Netflix's Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult documentary.
Here's everything you need to know about him and his involvement in the controversial dance group 7M.
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Who is Robert Shinn?
Robert Shinn is a pastor of the Los Angeles-based church Shekinah Church.
The questionable invite-only Shekinah Church was first launched in 1994.
According to the denominations website, they aim: "to aggressively train God’s people to develop the fruit of the Spirit, which are divine characteristics of God Himself, so that they may really meet God in the deepest way."
In addition to being a pastor, in 2021, Shinn co-founded 7M with his son, a talent management company.
Since its launch, the company has managed notable TikTok dancers like BDash and Miranda Derrick.
Following 7M's rise to fame, family members of the company's clients raised concerns after they became detached from their families.
In a 2022 Instagram Live, Miranda Derrick's family claimed someone was controlling the influencers managed by 7M.
They added that Derrick had skipped out on going to her grandfather’s funeral and married BDash in private.
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However, both Shinn and 7M have denied any accusations made by Derrick's family, stating they had used her "private family matters into a tawdry public scandal for clicks and clout."
As of June 2024, Shinn remains the Shekinah Church's pastor and co-founder of 7M.
While he has remained out of the limelight, a 2023 civil lawsuit was made against him, claiming he was "running a cult."
Inside the dark Tik Tok cult 7M
According to , the suit alleges Shinn subjected followers to "brainwashing, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, manipulation, and exploitation.”
The complainants, 7M dancers, including Aubrey Fisher-Greene, Kevin Davis, and Kylie Douglas, were the ones to make the accusation.
As per , the documents read: "Shekinah is a cult operating under the guise of a religious institution.
"Robert refers to himself as ‘the Man of God’ and preaches to Shekinah members and that [sic] without submitting to him and without Shekinah, their lives will be cursed.
"Robert required full physical and economic and control [sic] over Shekinah members."
What did Robert Shinn do in Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult?
Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult follows the allegations against Robert Shinn and takes an inside look into how 7M was formed and who was involved.
Directed by Serek Donnen, the three-part documentary interviews former 7M members as well as the families of current recruits.
The synopsis reads: "After TikTok dancers join a management company and its associated church, unsettling details about the founder and their dark realities come to light."
Toward the end of the series, the documentary revealed that Shinn's civil case is still "ongoing."
"Robert and his co-defendants deny the claims against them. The case is set to go to trial in 2025."
How to watch Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult?
Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult landed on our screens on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
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The show is available to watch on Netflix.
As of June 2024, the documentary series has a 6.1/10 rating on IMDb.
How to stay safe from cults
- Cope with stress? When stress is getting the best of us, we are more likely to be “seduced” by someone selling “happiness.” If you are having difficulty coping, seek help from reputable, trustworthy persons.
- NEVER be afraid to question.
- ALWAYS be wary of anyone who tries to discourage or prevent you from questioning.
- Learn to recognize common cult recruitment tactics and situations.
- Be wary of:
- People who are excessively or inappropriately friendly. Genuine friendships take time to build.
- People with simplistic answers or solutions to complex world problems.
- People with invitations to free meals, lectures, and workshops.
- People who pressure you to do something you don’t really want to do. Don’t be afraid to say “no!”
- People who are vague or evasive. If they are hiding something, it’s usually because they don’t want you to know!
- People who claim to be “just like you.” This is often a device aimed at disarming your vigilance.
- People who confidently claim that they can help you solve your problems, especially when they know little about you.
- People who make grand claims about “saving mankind,” “achieving enlightenment,” or “following the road to happiness.” If their claims seem too good to be true, they probably are!
- People who promise quick solutions to difficult life problems.
- People who claim they or their group is “really special.” Arrogance is much more common than genuine superiority.
- INFO from International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
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