Who is Robert Shinn and where is he now? Inside the sinister true story about the 7M Films founder's sordid private life

Pastor Robert Shinn has been at the center of headlines in recent days after Netflix debuted an explosive new documentary about his TikTok management company 7M Films, which has been accused of having ties to a Christian sect that he is also accused of running.

The new series, Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, dropped on the streaming service on May 29 - two years after one of 7M's most high-profile members, dancer Miranda Derrick, became embroiled in sinister claims that she was being held against her will by the so-called religious sect. 

In years past, shocking allegations about Robert isolating his clients from their families continued to swirl as people demanded an answer from the mastermind behind 7M Films.

Alarm bells soon became too loud to ignore as the once-private Robert was thrown into the forefront of wild claims that were heightened when Netflix launched its expose on 7M this week, laying bare wild details about Miranda's involvement - while also airing a series of harrowing claims made by former members, who are involved in a civil lawsuit with the pastor. 

Pastor Robert Shinn, the face behind TikTok management company 7M Films, has been at the center of headlines in recent days as Netflix premieres a new docuseries about the group

It set out to 'expose' some of the 'diabolical tactics' used by organizations like 7M 'to exert control over people' - as well as the 'lengths families will go to keep their loved ones safe.'

The trailer for the new docuseries began with a segment from the video Miranda's family shared in 2022.

A different woman explained in the teaser that men and women would leave their families and travel to LA in the hopes of pursuing their dreams of becoming dancers, but would then get 'wrapped up in things that weren't fair to them.' 

She claimed that the dancers were told to 'cut off your family because you need to work on yourself.' 

A slew of former members claimed that the Robert had 'isolated' and 'brainwashed' them and created an 'unsafe' environment.

Allegations claimed that the self-proclaimed 'man of God,' who is a pastor at an invite-only church, wasn't who appeared to be. 

7M Films and Shekinah Church in California, where Robert preaches, were soon being examined under a microscope as social media enthusiasts discovered that the man behind it all may have had dark intentions. 

Now, FEMAIL has lifted the lid on who exactly Robert is and the jaw-dropping allegations that he gave budding dancers everything they had ever hoped for - but for a sinister cost. 

Who is Robert Shinn? 

Robert has prided himself as a 'man of God' who preaches at an invite-only church known as Shekinah and is the founder of 7M Films 

Robert has prided himself as a 'man of God' who preaches at an invite-only church known as Shekinah. 

He is also the founder of the management company 7M Films, which sees him representing stars who boast millions of followers on TikTok. 

Robert's businesses were once a family affair with his daughter, Khloe, having previously been involved in both the church and 7M. 

However, she cut ties with the two organizations in 2022 and issued a statement at the time, which suggested that she and her then-husband had broken communication with her father as well.

She told Exposing7M: 'Though we prefer for our personal lives and business to be private, we understand there is a lot of interest due to the recent media coverage regarding 7M Films. Since it has been made known to us that people plan to report on our personal situation without having spoken to us, we are making this statement to set the record straight and it is our only statement on the matter currently.  

'At the beginning of May of this year, we parted ways with Shekinah Church and have no business with any company connected to the church or it's associates. We also parted ways with 7M Films management at the beginning of May of this year. We have no business with 7M Films, its associates or its clients.'

However, through all of this, Robert - who is known for being extremely private - had yet to make his own statements. 

That is until the mastermind was forced to face the music as allegations surrounded him. 

What allegations did Robert Shinn face? 

Wild claims began swirling around the pastor in 2022 when the family of one of the star dancers in 7M, Miranda Derrick, began raising questions about Robert 

Wild claims began swirling around the pastor in 2022 when the family of one of 7M Films' star dancers, Miranda, began raising questions and looking into the mastermind behind the management company. 

Fear struck in January 2022, after Miranda's sister Melanie and her parents, Kelly and Dean Wilking, claimed that they had not been able to speak to her since January 2021 after she refused to go to her grandfather's funeral in a now-viral video.

The tearful video featured her family expressing their concern over their dancing daughter's safety. 

'Whatever she's involved in she has some kind of control over her that's making her afraid. Prior to her being involved in this religious group, we'd never had an argument,' her mother said. 

They said that Miranda left their family to join the company, which is run by Shinn - the pastor of Shekinah Church, which they claimed is connected to a bizarre sect of Christianity known as the Seven Mountain Mandate, according to Gawker.

However, at the time, a representative for 7M Films and Shinn attacked the family for the cult allegations, branding them 'pathetic' in a strongly worded statement.

'The false and sensational allegations about 7M stem directly from a dispute between 7M-represented dancer Miranda Derrick and her estranged family,' a representative told DailyMail.com.

'Despite her family's claims, Miranda is a successful businesswoman and a loving wife and daughter who cares very much about her family. It is pathetic and contemptible to try to turn her private family matters into a tawdry public scandal for clicks and clout.'

The rep for 7M Films also told DailyMail.com that there is zero connection between the company and the Seven Mountain Mandate, and that the company neither believes in nor promotes the mandate.

Fear struck in January 2022, after Miranda's sister Melanie and her parents, Kelly and Dean Wilking, claimed that they had not been able to speak to her since January 2021

Miranda's family have long believed the company targets dancers like Miranda.

'They are not in control of their lives - someone else is controlling their lives and they're all victims of this,' the Wilkings said of 7M's clients.

'It's been haunting us for over a year now. It's definitely been the hardest year of my life.

'You don't need to cut us off. Life is going on and there are so many exciting things going on.'

In the trailer for the Netflix docuseries, the family was also seen expressing their concerns about their daughter and 7M Films.

Gawker reported after Miranda's family first posted their video that 7M Films had ties to a church called Shekinah Church and a sect of Christianity known as the Seven Mountain Mandate.

Followers of the mandate believe they must rid education, religion, family, business, government, entertainment, and media of demons and witchcraft.

The principles are followed by several Christians, including prominent Donald Trump-affiliated pastor Paula White.

They said that Miranda left their family to join the company, which is run by Shinn - the pastor of Shekinah Church, which they claimed is connected to a bizarre sect of Christianity 

Shinn has been sued in the past by former member Lydia Chung, who in 2009 claimed that he had taken her from her family, brainwashed her and defrauded her 

Shinn has been sued in the past by former member Lydia Chung, who in 2009 claimed that he had taken her from her family, brainwashed her and defrauded her out of almost $4million, allegedly sent straight to through church which does not pay taxes.

A judge ruled in Shinn's favor in May 2011, but Chung remains insistent that Shinn is running something sinister.

'This is a cult,' she said. 'This totally ruins people. You hear about the people who went to Vietnam - going through such a trauma, many people cannot function as a normal human being - this is what it does.'

Where is Robert Shinn now? 

Little is known about Robert as he seems to have worked hard to create a private bubble following the allegations

Little is known about Robert as he seems to have worked hard to create a private bubble following the allegations. 

His last reported comment is to DailyMail.com, when he denied the claims made against him. 

According to Netflix, Robert didn't respond to requests for a comment about the docuseries. 

At the end of the series, it notes: '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 is ongoing. Robert and his co-defendants deny the claims against them. The case is set to go to trial in 2025.'