On the surface, 7M seems like just another talent management company. But a new documentary called “Dancing for the Devil” by Netflix is exposing the dark underbelly of the talent management company, and the creator economy as a whole.
Who is Miranda Wilking?
Wilking, who is at the center of the documentary, is a prolific member of 7M. She’s a dancer with 2 million TikTok followers, but despite her omnipresence online, her family says that they have no contact with her.
Who is Robert Shinn?
The reason for this estrangement, her parents claim, is Robert Shinn: the leader of 7M who is also a pastor at Sheikinah, an invite-only church.
In the second episode of the 3-part documentary, former members of 7M and the Sheikinah recounted instances of physical, emotional, and verbal abuse they allegedly faced at the hands of Shinn. But Miranda’s family is still struggling to get hold of the dancer.
Where is Miranda Wilking now?
While her family’s turmoil is heavily detailed in the documentary, we never hear from Miranda herself. A representative for her did, however, provide a statement to The Daily Beast.
“Miranda Derrick is a successful businesswoman and a loving wife and daughter who cares very much about her family,” the representative said in a statement. “While the recent portrayals of Dr. Robert Shinn and 7M Films have been wildly offensive and riddled with inaccuracies, those false claims will not deter 7M from supporting Miranda in whichever endeavors she chooses to pursue next.”
Will we ever get to the truth of what happened? Probably not, but this documentary offers a cautionary tale to creators: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
