Netflix’s latest documentary Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult delves into terrifying claims made by ex-members of the Shekinah Church and the 7M management company. The three-part docuseries unveils startling details about the emergence of the company. Additionally, it traces how its leader, Robert Shinn, manipulated the members of 7M and established a cult-like environment. The documentary also states how his children, including his daughter Kloe Shinn, left the group after growing suspicious of the company’s activities. It is currently available to stream on Netflix.
While the documentary primarily focuses on Miranda and Melanie Wilking, Kloe Shinn is frequently mentioned. Citing Melanie Wilking’s statement in the docuseries, Cosmopolitan stated she began getting suspicious about Shekinah Church after receiving a bizarre phone call from Kloe Shinn. The outlet mentioned that Shinn told her to skip picking up a friend and attend an urgent church service instead. Shinn worked with the management company for several years and did a lot of work. However, in May 2022, Shinn and her husband, Daniel Joseph, parted ways with the management company and the church.
In May 2022, the couple released a statement on the Instagram page of Katie Paulson (@withoutacrystalball), who served as an archival consultant for the docuseries. In their statement, the couple noted they parted ways with 7M company and the Shekinah Church. The statement read, “At the beginning of May of this year, we parted ways with Shekinah Church and have no business with any company connected to the church or its associates. We also parted ways with 7M Films management at the beginning of May of this year. We have no business with 7M Films, its associates, or its clients.”
For the uninitiated, Shinn is a singer-songwriter who released her first song in 2016. Moreover, some of her tracks have also been used in TV shows such as Queer Eye, The Real Housewives, and Dancing with the Stars. In an interview with Hype Magazine, Shinn opened up about how she learned piano at the age of 10. She added, “I learned piano at the age of 10, which was because I wanted to write and sing my own songs.”
Since their departure, Kloe Shinn has maintained a low profile and doesn’t post much on her official Instagram account. According to Cosmopolitan, Shinn’s current whereabouts are unknown.
Is Shekinah Church still active after abuse allegations?
Apart from the 7M management company, Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult also talks about the Shekinah Church. In 1994, Robert Shinn established Shekinah as a religious community for Korean Americans. According to their website, Shinn formed the church “to save one billion souls directly and indirectly.” His daughter, Kloe Shinn, also became a part of the church. But she left in 2022 after hearing several allegations against the church and the 7M management company.
The church and 7M nabbed attention when one of the former members, Lydia Chung, filed a lawsuit against Robert Shinn. Per Rolling Stone, Chung claimed that Shinn used “mind control and other intimidating tactics” to give the church $3.8 million. Although the case went to trial, Shinn successfully defended himself and won the case. Meanwhile, the outlet also reported how Robert Shinn and his management company manipulated the dancers into isolating their family members.
In 2022, Robert Shinn filed a defamation case against some of the former church members for making false statements. Citing the lawsuit, CNN mentioned that certain former members of the church called it a “cult”. Moreover, the lawsuit that they tried to cancel Shinn “through flagrant, defamatory attacks on social and other media.” However, in 2023, several family members of the people associated with 7M filed another lawsuit against Robert Shinn.
CNN reported that family members and former church members filed a cross-complaint, accusing Robert, his wife, and other affiliated individuals of human trafficking and sexual battery. As per CNN, “The claims accuse them of fraud, forced labor and human trafficking, as well as Robert of sexual battery. The case is scheduled to go to trial in July 2025 in Los Angeles.” As of now, authorities haven’t filed any criminal charges against Robert Shinn.
Even after the allegations, Shekinah Church continues to operate. As per the website, it finds “Christians who have an abundant potential to be mighty generals of God.”
Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult is currently streaming on Netflix.
