Miranda Derrick, the TikTok dancer and main focal point for Netflix’s new true crime documentary Dancing for the Devil, has spoken out against the series and responded to repeated allegations that she is involved in a cult led by Robert Shinn. Shinn owns 7M Films talent management and the Shekinah Church, which come under intense scrutiny throughout the series.
Derrick is an influencer and dancer currently signed to 7M Films. She makes her videos under the management company and has done so for several years now. Her family, including her Mum, Dad and sister, who she used to collaborate with on TikTok and YouTube, all claim on the series Dancing for the Devil that Derrick has been brainwashed and is trapped in a cult which Shinn leads.
Her family claims the TikTok star began distancing herself from them after signing with the management company and meeting her now-husband, James (BDash) Derrick. In 2022, members of 7M Films released a statement asserting that it is entirely independent of Shekinah; however, members of both organisations have confirmed they are linked and stated the leader, Shinn, is guilty of controlling behaviour (via Netflix).
As per the documentary, the Wilking family had concerns for some time before finally going public with them in February 2022. In an Instagram video, the family speculated that 7M was a cult and they were manipulating Miranda. Attesting to their claims are fellow dancers and former members of 7M Films, who are now seeking justice against Shinn. Kevin “Konkrete” Davis, Kylie Douglas and Kailea Gray are all featured in the documentary.
After being live for a week, Miranda Derrick has now released a video and written a statement about the series. She states that Netflix has told a “one-sided story.”
“Hey guys, I hope you’re having a wonderful day! I just wanted to hop on here really quick and, first of all, say thank you so much to everybody who’s been so supportive during this time,” said Derrick in a video shared on her Instagram. While she didn’t go into too much detail, stating it could cause legal issues, she did talk about her thoughts about the Netflix documentary.
She expressed how she and her family simply “Don’t see eye to eye at this time,” confirming that “I gave my life to Jesus Christ in 2020 and asked my family for some space in the very beginning to collect my thoughts and process my new walk I wanted to take with God.”
She refuted claims that she left her family out of the blue, stating she started her own social media account because her sister logged her out and wouldn’t give her the new password. She also talks about missing her grandfather’s funeral, a moment that receives a particular mention in the series. “Before we went into the hospital to [say our last goodbyes], I started to pray for our Papa in the car, and Melanie got offended, angry with me and told me to stop and to never pray around her.” She continued to say that she didn’t go to the funeral as she felt “harassed” and “threatened” by her family.
This remains a developing story. Derrick states she is the plaintiff in a defamation case, so further updates on that case’s development will follow.
