In January 2021, TikToker Miranda Derrick joined the entertainment management firm 7M Films. Normally, there would be nothing unusual about that news, but there's a major reason it's being talked about now. Since joining the firm, Miranda has not been in touch with her family, leading to an explosion of conspiracy theories. The most common claim is that the firm is a substitute for a cult.
As we have previously reported, social media influencers can go to great lengths for fame, which doesn't always work out. In April, Russian influencer Leia Se was booted from Bali for painting a face mask on, instead of wearing one. Then in May 2021, Katie Sorensen was slapped with charges after claiming her kids were about to be kidnapped, which turned out to be a fake claim. In March 2022, Chozen Terrell-Hannah was busted for robbery after cops identified the shoes he stole in a TikTok video he uploaded.
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There have also been some more dire consequences, including death that some influencers have faced in their chase for fame. Tragically, it appears Miranda has found herself trapped, or so her family claims, in a cult.
What is the Shekinah Cult?
The cult is reportedly part of the Shekinah Church, a "racially and culturally diverse gathering of hope-filled believers" according to the Church website. The Church also runs an 'Immersion School of Equipping', which is what many TikTokers claim is the cult. In fact, one TikToker called the Church's Instagram page "very, very culty". The allegations that the Church is a cult, and is linked to 7M Films were made by Gawker in February 2022.
Gawker claimed 7M was "an offshoot of a Pentecostal sect that believes in something called the Seven Mountain Mandate." That group believes "a group of self-proclaimed ‘apostles’ have a plan rooted in biblical prophecy to ‘invade’ every sphere of life as we know it.'" Gawker and The Outline, which also reported on the Seven Mountain Mandate claim the group takes its beliefs from a "selective reading" of Isaiah 2:2.
Of course, these remain allegations for now. Both 7M FIlms and the Shekinah Church have denied allegations that they are a cult, but on TikTok, there are now numerous videos claiming exactly that. The allegations have gone viral in early March, thanks to the mystery of Miranda, whose family put out a public plea for her to return.
The mystery of Miranda Derrick
In January 2021, Miranda mysteriously cut off all contact with her family, after claiming they "wouldn’t understand" why she wouldn't come home. Her parents then flew out to Los Angeles to see her and found that she was a "totally different" person. On February 24, the couple along with Miranda's sister Melanie took to Instagram for a 40-minute live video to explain what they thought had happened.
"You don’t need to cut us off. Life is going on and there are so many exciting things going on," Melanie said. Miranda's mom added, "As a mom, I don’t know if she’s safe." Melanie then claims, "She’s a victim of a church-based CULT in the LA area and has blocked and cut off all contact with her family." Days later, Miranda responded claiming she cut off her family because of their dislike for her husband James, who she married in secret and is also affiliated with 7M Films.
Miranda also insisted that 7M was "not a religious nonprofit organization but a secular for-profit company run by people who have faith in God." She made those comments on her own Instagram page but doesn't appear to have directly reached out to her family. While 7M has not responded to media requests, Miranda's statement has done little to end the conspiracy theories. TikTok in particular seems to be bent on continuing to claim 7M is part of a cult.
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