Update: June 6, 9:00 a.m. ET: 7M Films has responded to allegations made against the talent management company in the Netflix's Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, calling the docuseries “a slanderous work of fiction” and threatening to pursue “all legal remedies” against the doc.

7M Films came under fire after its CEO, Robert Shinn, was the subject of the Netflix docuseries, directed by Derek Doneen. In Dancing for the Devil, Shinn is accused of running a cult via his talent management company, 7M films, as well as his church, Shekinah Church, where he serves as pastor.

In a statement emailed to Vanity Fair, 7M films denies any and all wrong doing. “The Netflix docuseries is a slanderous work of fiction, born from a failed extortion attempt, and invented for the sole purpose of gaining fame and fortune,” read the statement.

The statement, sent anonymously, goes on to accuse two former Shekinah Church members of conspiring against Shinn and his associates after an alleged failed extortion attempt. “Two years ago, Melanie Lee Goldman, Priscylla Leigh aka Elisha Priscylla Leigh and their co-conspirators launched a concerted smear campaign to defame Robert Shinn, his family, and his business associates after Mr. Shinn did not capitulate to Ms. Leigh’s extortion demands,” it reads. “Despite sworn statements from co-conspirators that confirm the scheme by Ms. Goldman and Ms. Leigh to disseminate widespread lies, Netflix recklessly provided a global platform to peddle a false narrative that is at the center of ongoing litigation.”

“We will continue to pursue all legal remedies available to stop the spread of salacious lies and expect to be fully vindicated in court,” ends the statement.

The full statement has also been posted to 7M Films official Instagram page. The sole other post on 7M films Instagram page is a statement from 2022 pledging allegiance to Shinn while simultaneously separating 7M Films from Shekinah Church. “It is true that the CEO of 7M, Dr. Robert Shinn, is also the Pastor of Shekinah Church,” reads the statement from 2022. “It is not true that there is any business relationship between the two entities. The Shekinah Church and 7M are run and operated separate and apart from one another.” You can read 7M Film's full statement on Netflix's Dancing with the Devil, below.

The original post continues below.

Professional dancer Miranda Derrick is sharing her side of the story after her life was featured in Netflix’s docuseries Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult.

Released on May 29, Dancing for the Devil follows an alleged Los Angeles–based cult run by Robert Shinn, a pastor at Shekinah Church and the founder of 7M Films management. In video recordings from church services included in the docuseries, Shinn can allegedly be seen influencing Shekinah Church members and 7M clients to cut ties with family members who do not belong to the organization. He’s also accused of taking financial advantage of his clients, in some instances allegedly suggesting that they donate up to 70% of their earnings to Shinn and Shekinah. Shinn is also accused of sexual assault by multiple women in the documentary, allegations he has previously denied.

Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult Depicts a Dangerous Group in Real Time

Miranda Derrick, née Wilking, has been a member of the church since 2020. She and her husband, James Derrick, have been linked since 2021 and are managed by 7M. Prior to Derrick’s involvement with 7M, she and her sister, Melanie Wilking, were rising social media dance influencers, sharing the handle @WilkingSisters and amassing over 3.1 million followers on TikTok. In the docuseries, Derrick’s parents and sister claim that Miranda cut ties with her family after getting involved with Shinn and 7M. An Instagram Live video from February 2022 featured in the film shows Derrick’s family alleging that Miranda has become a victim of a cult, and sharing they had no idea she got engaged to James Derrick in 2021. After the Wilkings posted their video, other families came forward raising allegations against Shinn, 7M, and Shekinah church.

Derrick, however, steadfastly maintains that she’s not in a cult. In an Instagram Story posted on Tuesday June 4 and reported by People, Derrick calls the three-part Netflix docuseries “one-sided” and claims that “not a victim,” “not in any harm,” and “not being abused.”

“I want to start by saying that I appreciate the concern that has been expressed for my well-being. Due to pending litigation, in which I am a plaintiff in a defamation lawsuit, it’s not appropriate for me to comment on specific allegations. Though I will state that I do not condone abuse in any way,” writes Derrick.

She goes on to address concerns her parents and sister have brought up both on Instagram and in Dancing for the Devil. “I love my Mom, Dad and Melanie and they will forever be a part of my life. The truth is, we just don’t see eye to eye at this time. I believe that this documentary is a one-sided story,” says Derrick. “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.”

“My family didn’t honor the space I asked for, and I saw a different side of them I’ve never seen before,” she continues. “Honestly, it made me mad, frustrated and annoyed that they were being so overbearing and chaotic.”

She goes on to say that her sister Melanie locked her out of their joint social media accounts, forcing her to start her own account and pursue her own career separate from her sister. That said, Derrick also adds that she’s been working on reconciling with her family. “I have been getting together with them over the past couple years to make amends, move on and work things out as a family,” she writes. “This documentary has created a further challenge between us as I work to overcome this public attack.”

Derrick ends her statement by maintaining that she is not in a cult. “No one likes to be portrayed as their [sic] brainwashed/not in control of her own life/shell of herself/human trafficked daughter/sister when that just isn’t the truth,” Derrick writes. “I would have preferred that my family’s circumstances remain private. I’m forced and feel like I have no other choice but to defend myself because of all of this. I can’t convince anyone to believe anything. I am just a woman trying to live my life. I am not a victim, I am not in any harm, I am not being abused.”

In a statement to US Weekly, Dancing for the Devil director Derek Doneen said that Derrick was informed that her family was participating in the docuseries, and that he invited Derrick to participate as well. “My hope is that Miranda will watch this and she will see that it was all done out of love,” said Doneen. “The experience that we both had with that family was absolutely coming from a place of love and desperation. Of course they expressed fear about how she would take it and I think that is ongoing.”

Shinn, Shekinah Church, and 7M have denied all the allegations raised against them. Doneen’s docuseries ends with the following disclaimer: “No criminal charges have been brought against Shinn. He has previously denied sexually abusing any member of Shekinah or any client of 7M. The civil lawsuit [against Shinn, 7M, Shekinah, and others, filed by former dancers and members of Shekinah] is ongoing. Robert and his codefendants deny the claims against them. The case is set to go to trial in 2025.”

Vanity Fair has reached out to Doneen, 7M, and Shekinah for comment.