Melanie Wilking Denounces Threats Made to Sister Miranda Derrick

Melanie Wilking has denounced threats made to her sister Miranda Derrick following the discharge of Dancing for the Satan: The 7M TikTok Cult.

On Monday, June 10, Miranda, 27, got here ahead with a video on Instagram, explaining that she and her husband James “BDash” Derrick have acquired demise threats and have been stalked following the discharge of the Netflix docuseries, which insinuates that they’re a part of an alleged cult overseen by Robert Shinn, the founding father of the Shekinah Church.

“After all, we by no means wished any type of violence to return her means, and I am very sorry that she has skilled that as a result of our solely intent was to save lots of her from an unsafe atmosphere and to offer her love and know that we’re right here to help her,” Wilking tells PEOPLE solely about her sister’s Instagram video.

Wilking says listening to Miranda’s movies concerning the docuseries “saddens her.” 

“She’s been underneath this management for over three years, and so the person who’s sitting in entrance of her digicam and making these posts, that is not my true sister,” she says. “I do know that that is from the church and from Robert. She’s so loving and sort and cherished our household, and so for her to level fingers at us, it is simply not her true self.”

Just some years in the past, Wilking shared a joint social media account with Miranda referred to as “The Wilking Sisters,” and joined her on the Shekinah Church. Nonetheless, it didn’t take lengthy for Wikling to acknowledge one thing wasn’t proper.

“I feel the distinction is I didn’t have a major different within the group,” she defined. “James, Miranda’s boyfriend on the time, was extraordinarily concerned, so due to this fact to ensure that my sister to see him, she must even be going to those companies and dinners. I did not have that, so I used to be sort of disconnected in a means and was in a position to hearken to exterior influences just a little extra, confirming the purple flags that I used to be seeing.”

Over time, Miranda’s relationship with James and the Church modified their household dynamic, Wilking says.

“After I would see my sister, it was very floor stage. We could not speak about something in depth as a result of that belief was damaged on either side,” Wilking says about her relationship with Miranda.

Wilking says her and her dad and mom’ participation within the docuseries got here with dangers.

“To have a real relationship once more with my sister, I knew we needed to proceed to talk out,” she provides. “I care extra about her security and her well-being, and so doing the documentary meant that we might progress that in a constructive path as an alternative of simply pretending like issues weren’t occurring after we know the reality concerning the group that she’s part of. We could not simply be bystanders.”

Responding to her sister’s declare that “My dad and mom and my sister have centered a lot on this documentary that they’ve forgotten about engaged on any relationship with me,” Wilking says she believes it is a tactic from Shinn and the church.

“I feel from her assertion, it’s extremely clear that she didn’t watch the documentary as a result of if she did, she would know that it is a lot greater than simply our household scenario and it goes deeper, 25 plus years of Robert controlling these individuals,” the 25-year-old says.

Wilking elaborates, “After all, we would like a relationship with my sister. That’s the reason we did this from the beginning. However as soon as we began to study different individuals, it was additionally that we didn’t need different individuals to fall sufferer to this group, and we knew we would have liked to make use of our voices and share this.” 

“All of the steps that we have taken, attempting to resolve it quietly for a yr, then going reside after which having all of those dancers and members go away as a result of we used our voice… all of this stuff have resulted in constructive outcomes, so I’ve to consider that my intestine and instinct has been appropriate,” Wilking provides.

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Wilking hasn’t spoken to Miranda because the launch of the docuseries however has “reached out, simply saying, ‘I am right here everytime you’re prepared to speak.’ And I truthfully was not anticipating a response.”

Nonetheless, Wilking and her household will “by no means lose hope” about issues going again to the best way they as soon as had been.

“My hope for the long run is we’re all hanging out, having household events, speaking on the day by day like we used to and simply being there to help one another,” she says. “That’s all we’ve ever wished.”

Miranda and the 7M group haven’t responded to PEOPLE’s request for remark.