The Netflix documentary Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult examines allegations against the 7M management company and the Shekinah Church. It also focuses on its leader, Robert Shinn, and how he created a cult-like environment while running the entities. Through interviews, the docuseries claims how Shinn manipulated 7M members to cut ties with their families. The documentary is currently available to stream on Netflix.
In 1994, Robert Shinn founded Shekinah Church in Los Angeles as a religious haven for Korean Americans. According to the documentary, the church initially consisted of 15 members, including Shinn’s family and his sister’s family. One of the former church members claimed that Shinn and his sister promised everyone “love” and “acceptance”.
As time progressed, Shinn opened up new businesses, including two real estate companies, a cafe, and more. The documentary states that most employees in these businesses were members of Shekinah Church. Furthermore, the employees received little pay, even when working 12-hour shifts.
Despite wanting to become a Hollywood executive, his plans did not succeed. As a result, he started the 7M management company and called in dancers like Miranda Wilking for several gigs. Per the documentary, some dancers got opportunities to dance on The Ellen Show and at the Los Angeles Clippers game. Despite all the success, he never ceased leading the Shekinah Church. However, things went south for Robert Shinn and his entities when several former members of the 7M accused Shinn of manipulating them and taking control over their decisions.
The former member also revealed that Shinn told them to cut ties with their families and loved ones who were not part of 7M or Shekinah Church. As time passed, more allegations started leveling against Shinn and the aforementioned entities. However, the allegations didn’t stop Robert Shinn from running Shekinah Church. According to its website, the church is still active.
Where is Robert Shinn now?
The documentary explores one aspect: how Shinn told his followers to part from their loved ones. Subsequently, former 7M employees alleged that they were taught to cut ties with their families to save them. In the following years, several former members of the 7M company and the Shekinah Church came forward to level accusations against the leader.
The first documented complaint happened in 2009 when a former member named Lydia Chung accused Shinn of fraud and labor law violations. Rolling Stone reported that Robert Shinn used “intimidating tactics” to force Chung into donating $3.8 million to the church. However, she lost the case, and the judge ruled in Shinn’s favor. The documentary states that the allegations didn’t stop, but no one took any action. In 2022, Shinn filed a defamation case against former members of Shenikah Church, claiming that they used false statements. In his complaint, Shinn claimed that the accused called the church a “cult,” per CNN.
However, a cross-complaint filed by former church members and families of 7M dancers accused Robert Shinn of sexual battery. According to CNN, the lawsuit stated that Shinn, his wife, and his entities are being accused of “fraud, forced labor and human trafficking,” while Shinn faces an additional charge of sexual battery. The case will go to trial in July 2025 in Los Angeles. Currently, there are no criminal charges against Shinn and any of his entities.
Although the documentary didn’t reveal anything about his whereabouts, reports suggest that Robert Shinn lives with his son in Los Angeles.
Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult is streaming on Netflix now.
