Whereas TikTok star Miranda Derrick’s household insists she is being held captive by a non secular cult, the 25-year-old retains on dancing.
Derrick — whose maiden identify is Wilking — constructed a profitable TikTok dance account together with her sister, Melanie Wilking, beneath the username @wilkngssister till 2021 when the siblings cut up and Miranda signed with 7M administration.
The leisure administration agency was created by former Shekinah Church founder Robert Shinn, who in 2009 was sued by former church member Lydia Chung for allegedly reducing her off from her household, brainwashing her and defrauding her out of property and funds price $3.8 million.
The Wilkings now allege that Miranda is a sufferer of comparable habits. The church is believed by some — together with her household — to be a cult.
In keeping with a earlier report, she has been “brainwashed” by Shinn.
“It’s been haunting us for over a yr now. It’s undoubtedly been the toughest yr of my life,” stated Melanie, alongside her household, in an interview with the Instances UK. “Miranda is part of a non secular group and she or he’s not allowed to talk to us.”
Her household claims they didn’t even know she married fellow dancer and 7M member James Derrick in 2021.
As well as, they are saying their daughter additionally refused to return to Michigan in January for her grandfather’s funeral. Her dad and mom stated they flew out to LA proper after to see Miranda for themselves, saying the daughter that stood in entrance of them was “completely totally different.” They stated it was odd that Derrick would minimize off and block her household, particularly for the reason that sisters had been “hooked up on the hip.”
Folks have linked 7M, which is believed to focus on dancers, and the “Seven Mountain Mandate,” a conservative Christian motion accused of searching for to take management of household, faith, schooling, media, leisure, enterprise and authorities endeavors.
However Shinn’s consultant informed the Instances UK that his church and group don’t have anything to do with the motion. As well as, the spokesperson denied claims that Shinn exerts management over others.
“At no time did Dr. Shinn isolate anybody, restrict anybody’s food regimen, power anybody to run or management anybody’s checking account,” the consultant stated. “Dr. Shinn doesn’t imagine or encourage the prosperity doctrine.”
Nevertheless, one professional prompt to the Instances that there’s a direct hyperlink between the Shekinah Church and the Seven Mountain Mandate.
“These individuals need cash and energy… that’s their agenda,” stated Steven Hassan, a psychological well being counselor with many years of expertise coping with cults.
In the meantime, the household has not given up hope about getting Derrick again — one thing she doesn’t suppose is an issue to start with. Derrick has slammed her household’s public pleas to go away 7M.
“It’s pathetic and contemptible to attempt to flip her personal household issues right into a tawdry public scandal for clicks and clout,” Derrick and her husband stated in a press release after the household posted a tearful message to Instagram on Miranda’s birthday on Feb. 24, 2022.
“We’re residing in worry,” her dad, Dean, stated within the 39-minute replace.
“As a mother, I don’t know if she’s protected,” Kelly stated, crying. “I simply wish to hug her.”
To unknowing social media followers, Derrick appears to be doing OK. On Thursday, she was all smiles in a TikTok the place she danced alongside to a sound chew by Dory from “Discovering Nemo.” In a put up previous to that, she attended the YouTube Shorts Magnificence Fest Brunch in West Hollywood.
