When I first heard about a TikTok dance cult, I assumed it had something to do with middle schoolers avoiding their homework to twerk to the latest Megan Thee Stallion hit. But the full story is far more disturbing than anything you’d expect from dancing for likes. Pastor and businessman Robert Shinn has used 7M and Shekinah to wreak serious havoc on its TikTokers, church members, and the family members of lost victims who are now speaking out about their experiences in Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok cult. While Netflix is known for turning out scandalous documentaries (between its messy reality TV bangers) the revelations in this three-part series had me saying two words only: I’m shook. That is, after I managed to pick my jaw up off the floor. From sharing their brave escapes from the picture-perfect Hollywood cult to following the dollar signs from TikTok brand deals, here are all the most shocking moments from Dancing for the Devil.

Craziest Moments From The Dancing For The Devil Documentary

1. Robert Shinn instructed his followers to “die to yourself”

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A key tool in running a successful cult is isolating the members from their friends and family. Many of the TikTokers who were sucked into the 7M orbit and exposed to Shinn’s church, Shekinah, were told to do exactly that when he preached to “die to themselves.” This essentially meant they needed to become dead to everything and everyone in their former reality in order to be properly resurrected as someone who was worthy of going to heaven. This meant cutting off contact with loved ones not in the group (including your parents, siblings, and even your kids) in the hopes of saving them with your own commitment to your salvation. For many members like Miranda Wilking, this death was combined with a total outward makeover.

2. 7M and Shekinah members gave as much as 50% of their income to Robert Shinn

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Pastor Shinn preached that his members would reap what they sowed, and if they wanted to receive a big blessing, they needed to give him a big offering as thier only direct conduit to God. The original survivors of Shekinah church and the more recent 7M defectors have said Robert took huge portions of their income by establishing a weekly allowance, taking fees directly from their paychecks, and pressuring members to sign away additional cash with his “brainwashed” influence. Some church members and employees would be confronted with dozens of blank checks for them to sign with little explanation. Shinn would brag at Shekinah services about which 7M dancers brought in $30,000 brand deals before imploring them to give away 10% of what they made for tithes (a traditional biblically based Christian practice), another 10% for church offering to Shekinah, and a final 10% Man of God donation that was sent in appreciation for Robert Shinn. This was all on top of the 20% management fee that 7M took for their talent services.

3. 7M members had to sign NDAs to attend Shekinah Church

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After the Wilking family put a bright spotlight on the 7M/Shekinah scandal in February of 2022, Robert Shinn became very concerned with 7M’s image, according to members still stuck in his circle. Multiple TikTokers remembered Shinn’s sudden uncharacteristic encouragement for the group to snap some pics to make everything look “normal.” The Miranda situation was causing cult accusations to pile up against what he now insisted was a normal church and unrelated business. In a particularly haunting recording shared in the doc, Shinn says “That’s why I had you sign NDAs so you won’t share this. Praise the Lord, Amen.” Dancers like Aubrey signed the NDA under pressure without a chance to look it over while others, like Kevin, refused to sign, causing them to finally question their environment.

4. Robert Shinn was a medical doctor

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I can’t be the only one simply terrified by the fact that Robert Shinn was once a practicing medical physician with the authority to influence people’s physical health. While the series doesn’t touch on what kind of doctor he was, a profession that comes with the mantra “do no harm” feels terribly opposite of everything we’re hearing about 7M/Shekinah.

5. 7M was not Shekinah’s first secular company

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Before 7M, Robert Shinn had opened a cafe, a few mortgage and real estate companies, and two flower shops, all staffed with church employees. He was reported to pay his employees illegally low wages for their round-the-clock hours and skimmed from the small checks they did receive, leaving some with an allowance as low as $80 every two weeks. The employees allowed it because they were vulnerable members of the community as poor immigrants who trusted their religious role model. Robert also made some independent movies before 7M, demonstrating his bizarre insistence to be a millionaire in show business, despite being a doctor and pastor already.

6. Robert Shinn is also accused of sexual crimes

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Shinn, who referred to himself as “Man of God,” was eventually called out by a large group of the female congregation at Shekinah who said he had been taking advantage of them behind each other’s backs in the 2010s. He also never told them he had a new “Woman of God” AKA wife. Robert initially apologized after being confronted by the women which kept some of them on his side. But he later doubled down in private to individual women, saying he was allowed to have mistresses like King David did in The Bible. One of his victims, Priscylla, shares in the documentary that she was sexually abused in Robert’s home for 10 years after her sister left the cult to escape the same fate.

7. Actor Marque Richardson helped Melanie Lee escape from Shekinah

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Part two of the series introduces Melanie Lee (Priscylla’s sister). During her early days of joining Shekinah, Melanie invited a friend to the church who was quickly turned off by Robert Shinn. If this friend looks familiar to you, don’t be surprised: it’s actor Marque Richardson from Dear White People, Antebellum, and Tell Me Your Secrets. He helped Melanie escape after the sexual allegations against Robert Shinn were exposed. Melanie had originally forgiven Robert after his apology until she realized he was still dangerous when he made advances on her. Robert also told her she needed to have sex with a different church member of his choosing. When Melanie was ready to get out, Marque showed up at a Shekinah residence with a van and bat to make sure his friend got away safely. King behavior doesn’t even cover it.

8. Robert Shinn has not been arrested or charged

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Robert Shinn preached that he “cannot be defeated” and that any voice that speaks out against him “will be struck down.” Unfortunately, as of now, this has proven to be true. Despite victims of 7M and Shekinah working together to combine evidence of financial and sexual abuse, they have gotten no indication from the LAPD that there is progress with any ongoing investigations that could lead to charges soon. Currently, the only legal action against Robert and Shekinah are civil lawsuits.