Dancing for the Devil: Melanie Wilking RESPONDS TO Miranda Derrick's Statement (EXCLUSIVE)

at that point we knew she was in a cult all of the dancers that are currently in all the members that are still in they are all victims at some point we'll know that we've done all of this because we love her unconditionally and will do anything for her and I know she'll know that at some point big news to to talk about first you're coming off of a honeymoon yeah that is true yep just got married very excited congratulations congratulations how are you feeling just in general obviously so much to celebrate but also a lot of painful memories and and conversations that are being had right now yeah it's definitely a interesting time because I have one of the best things that happened to me and then the documentary coming out which just it kind of just brings up some old feelings but all in all I'm so proud of the project and there's so much positivity that has already come of it and you know educating people and spreading awareness and so I am very grateful for that I'm glad to hear that you know before we get into what's happened in recent years particularly between you and your sister and to your sister um let's talk about the beginning take me back to those early years with Miranda what was your relationship like when you were children um when maybe did even your love for dance begin absolutely so my sister and I are two years apart and she was the best older sister like she would do something I wanted to do it so she was in dance at like two years old so then when I turned two I was like okay well I wanted to start dancing and so then as we got older we started to we were in the same groups together and we would always say we were twins that were two years apart like we did everything together finished each other's sentences just had all the same friends loved the same things and so then Miranda moved to California to pursue dance and a year went by and I was like you know what I can't do this anymore I have to come out there too so that we can keep you know and we were known as the wilking sisters and so I was like we got to keep the sisters together so I came out and it it was truly just such a special bond that now going through what we went through it was truly something that I will always cherish and I have hope that we can get back to that we're just in a bit of a difficult place right now and speaking of that difficult place when did you first notice that things were beginning to change end of 2020 my sister had gone back to California um we were in Michigan at the time to visit her now husband um James or B Dash and at that time he had been hanging out quite a bit with his videographer Isaiah Shin um who we now know is Robert Shin the pastor of the church's son and so when my sister went back um I would talk to her you know every day just catching up what were you up to and she was always with The Shins and with that group and so that was just a little interesting because it was you know kind of like you aren't doing anything else what's going on you're with these people every single day and then when she came back it was somewhat of a shift and she would you know be on the phone late at night and lateer we would find out that she was attending Services via zoom and so then when we went back to California is when it really um picked up and in the distance started I want to show you a clip um from around the time that your sister was really starting to have some sort of outward facing success she was on these shows and um she was actually on one of our shows I want to play this for you and then get your reaction knowing what you know now obviously from the outside looking in things are looking great she's two stepping with Mario Lopez you know they're on on this press tour but it wasn't long after this aired that you and your parents actually went live and what is now a very sort of Infamous um stream or or live stream talking about your concerns for your sister looking at that clip seeing what seems like a very joyful happy innocent moment how does it make you feel knowing what was happening behind the the scenes and what you were feeling behind the scenes yeah it's it's a very interesting situation because of course I'm happy for my sister she has these opportunities coming to her and and it's incredible seeing those things but at that time knowing what I knew and now knowing what I know as well it was it was difficult because I'm seeing this platform that they're given and they're these you know Tick Tock dance celebrities and in my head I'm thinking they're going to Tet get other young people other young talented people and they're going to be sucked into this as well because look at the success they're getting look at the jobs they're booking and so it's really a hard situation to navigate because here I'm I'm so happy that my sister is getting these opportunities but I know at the end of the day she doesn't have control of you know everyday life and there's someone that is controlling everything and and all of that success and and money and fame is really given to the pastor of this church Robert Chen it's it's not it's like they're his puppets and so that's why we chose to to speak out is because we didn't want this to happen to other people and walk me through the process of that day deciding to go live were you nervous were you afraid this would push your sister away did you have hopes that it would maybe bring her closer what was the thought process I honestly I can't even watch the video because it's so chaotic and it moments before it was like are we doing this are we not doing this okay let's do it and that's why I'm like I can't even watch because it's chaotic but I think it truly showed the raw emotions that we were going through we didn't know what to do it was our a cry for help and what we felt was our last resort we had tried to resolve the issue privately for over a year and that did not work at all and so we were really just trying to to reach for any sort of resource or help and once we went live we actually did hear from Miranda so I think us speaking out has created a positive change and so I wouldn't do it any different were you surprised by the response or how viral the video ended up going most definitely I did not expect that at all and especially at that time it was really hard because there were two sides to it where people are are you know the people that knew us obviously knew what we were going through and know us as a family and and know that we lost contact with my sister but then you have another side of people saying well this is just an isolated family incident and that was hard to see but that's why I'm so thankful now that the documentary is out and you see that it goes so much deeper than just an isolated family incident absolutely it really does and you know know in the aftermath of the video of more attention on shakina and Sim um this documentary now especially uh dancers began to leave dancers have continued to leave um walk me through the potentially roller coaster of emotions you may have felt your family may have felt sort of realizing people are getting out and yet hoping that Miranda would be one and realizing each time that she was M that was very difficult because of course us sharing our our story we wanted to get my sister out that I mean it's my sister that's who who at the end of the day we're fighting for but to see so many other dancers and members leave was incredible it made it all worth it um because of course I want my sister to come out and I I know that she will at at some point in time but if anyone leaves that's a win for us talk to me a little bit about your relationship with your sister now because from what I understand it does look as if there's some sort of relationship you've been able to maintain right yes yeah we talk here and there once the documentary released I did reach out but I haven't heard anything back I'm I know on both sides emotions are high it's it's definitely a difficult time so I didn't expect a a respond um but for a while we were around each other more which was nice um but what we reference in the documentary is we kind of just pretend like nothing ever happened and we never bring anything up which has been very difficult for me I'm not going to lie and so yeah I'm hoping that from here forward we can actually work towards building our relationship back yeah and you know you mentioned that it has been difficult which I can only imagine it would be to have your heartbreaking and having to sort of table that just to keep the person that you love as close as you can have them um in the docu series we see your family struggling with needing having to pretend that everything is fine to be close to Miranda um so I'm curious to know what was the Catalyst for you to do the docu series um if you were afraid or nervous that it might push her further away it was definitely a risk but I think when we went live then we finally something happened it was you know finally the word was out we heard from Miranda dancers are leaving so when we got approached for the documentary we were very hesitant because at that point we had heard from my sister so it was just a very delicate situation but at the end of the day we knew that we needed to educate more people and spread the word so that Robert can't do this to more people and when we did go live then we found out so much more information like how he's been doing this for over 25 years yeah and that was just crazy to us and so we felt that you know if we can help in any way we will yeah and you absolutely have so many people coming forward with their stories so many people feeling more comfortable or emboldened to leave to get out you know fast forward to just a couple of weeks ago uh you got married your sister was there so Miranda uh did attend how was that how was everything I'm very glad that she came and of course it was my wedding so I was kind of pulled in a bunch of different directions little busy yeah just a little and you know unfortunately wasn't able to spend much time with her or really anyone for that matter it's pretty quick but the brief interactions I did have they were all very positive and I'm I'm very glad her and and James decided to come because then we'll have that memory together and that's something that you talked about in the docu series right always dreaming of having your sister by your side for such a special day that was definitely a battle but I'm I'm very glad with the decision I made to invite them and and them willing to to be there was beautiful and when it comes to the docu series um from what I understand you discussed or maybe asked for her to be a part of it or asked if she was open to being a part of it my parents asked her and um her and James both did Decline and that was another main reason why we decided to do the documentary as well as we wanted to make sure that we were a voice for Miranda and she wasn't spun as you know a crazy naive girl like no she is she is a victim they are all victims and we wanted to make sure that was very clear um Miranda posted and and sort of acknowledged the docu series and and shared her perspective there are a couple of things that we just want to go over in that she's claimed that you know it was one-sided with the the production of the documentary but it sounds like that's not necessarily the case right they were reached out too many times and declined every time and she said that you and your family were not supportive when she dedicated her life back to God in 2020 do you feel like that's true do what do you feel about kind of the things that she's said at that point we knew she was an Ault so of course we are going to have our guard up and I was I was telling her all the things I mean I went to two of their private dinners and two of the services that you have to be invited to and I was invited to those and I picked up on all these red flags and so when she's saying that we weren't supportive it was because I was seeing what she wasn't seeing I was seeing all those red flags I was seeing that they wanted to because I wasn't going anymore they wanted to rip us apart and all those things it was like no no no that's not going to happen and sure enough look where look where we are so of course if she was you know wanting to to further her spiritual journey in in a way that wasn't with with someone like Robert sh that would be fantastic but we knew the situation and we're trying to to avoid all this right now Miranda said that you locked her out of the wilking sister's Instagram account and that that's the reason that she started her own solo account what's your response to that taking taking us back to that day that was the day that she refused to get on the plane to go to my grandfather's funeral and we referenced this in the document she claims it was covid but then admitted to me that it had nothing to do with her being sick and she just couldn't go because she had to ask someone that was closer to God to come home and so that day I got on on the plane and you know I'm with my parents they picked me up from the airport we're all freaking out and we couldn't get a hold of her then I'm getting messages back from her that were obviously not written by her I mean I know my sister and I know words were used that she would never use grammar just things I'm like I I know wasn't her and so then I'm thinking about oh my gosh we've spent years for our career and I don't know who has her phone because this is not Miranda messaging me so I went into our accounts and I realized that our Tik Tok was under my phone number so I was able to change our our um password and so I did that to protect uh and I messaged her saying you know because she said that I locked her out and I said well when I hear your voice and we can meet up and talk about what's happening I will gladly give you the login I just don't know who I'm talking to right now and I didn't hear her voice for over a year so when she says that it's just like there's Mo most definitely more to the story than just me logging her out of a Tik Tok account I was trying to protect our years of hard work because I I knew that they were going to end up blocking me out and then I you know so it was a very difficult situation you mentioned your your Papa's funeral she said that she didn't go back because she felt harassed and threatened by you and your family I'm just curious to know one what was your reaction to that but also how does that feel when you clearly love your sister and it is very obvious that your family just wants her well well and safe um how how do you feel it's hurtful to hear that but at the end of the day I know that who's talking right now who's giving statements right now that's not the sister I I know and I know that she's been under this influence for over three years now and so I try to set that aside and and know that it's not really her and she at some point will know that we've done all of this because we love her unconditionally and will do anything for her and I know she'll know that at some point when is the last time that you spoke to Miranda that you know you spoke to Miranda at the wedding the okay yep just saying hello but that's and your your parents how are they doing in all of this they are holding up okay but but this whole situation has affected them tremendously and it's so sad to see what they're going through and for them to doubt themselves as parents for what we're going through and so it's it's been brutal but um I think with the documentary coming out there's more hope and they have never lost hope that is one thing they have always kept their try to keep their spirits up and have not given up and when I say that every single day since all of this happened my parents have tried to come up with some way something new we could try some other way to to connect with her they have every single day um so I think that just shows that they're incredible parents and yeah I love them dearly they're they're the best seven and made a statement recently also denying everything a lot of allegations headed their way any response to their denial the documentary speaks for itself yeah anyone who watches it they know and yeah it's I it just shows that they didn't watch it um and yeah I think the truth the truth is in the documentary if you could talk about maybe some of the good that's come out of this you talk about the dancers who have gotten out the dancers who have reconnected with their family their friends their loved ones the outpouring of support for you for your family what has that been like to to feel people really rally around you and empathize with what you're going through it's been incredible and I think my my favorite messages that I've gotten are parents who have reached out saying they watched it with their kids and they're sharing you know these red flags that you may see or you know just educating them about these high controlled environments because they're so much more common than you would think and I've witnessed that firsthand and with with going live initially how many people reached out saying they were in a similar situation was insane to me so the the spreading awareness and education is just something that I I'm truly so overwhelmed and just so grateful that we were able to to share this and that so much good has come from it it was you know it it still is a a traumatic and awful experience but good has come from it people have left they're living living their lives as they should reconnecting with family it's it's so beautiful and yeah I'm just very grateful for that what do you hope people understand or want people to know about you and your family and then also about Miranda about who your sister really is just to know that we are are people who truly value family family is number one and I think that's very obvious with with the actions we have taken um and we we're motivated and and dedicated to continue to fight for our family and it would have been so easy just to to give up but that's not that's not who we are we're we're going to keep going and and I think to know that Miranda is she was my favorite person you know before all this I looked up to her she was the person I would go to for absolutely anything and she was just such a kind-hearted person and I think that's honestly one of the reasons why this this group prayed on her is because she was such a people pleaser wanted to do good for the world wanted nothing but the best for her family and so sadly those qualities were taken advantage of but I just yeah I want people to know that she is truly such an amazing person if Miranda was watching this what would you say to her what message do you have for your sister I would want her to watch the documentary because from the statement that you know she put out it is very obvious that she did not and so I would want her to watch because it is so much deeper than just our family and just educate yourself and know that we absolutely love you with all of our heart and if other dancers from 7M and shakina are watching what would you say to them all of the dancers that are currently in all the members that are still in they are all victims so there is no blame on anyone who's there it they are all victims but I'm so glad the truth is coming to light and shikina will not be in commission very much longer because we are all taking action we are staying strong and we will not let Robert win and lastly what is next for you I mean you just obviously had a very big life change it's a very exciting time um what's next for you Melanie yeah you know I am a newly married woman living across the country but I'm still still going to be dancing and sharing positivity all across my my social channels and yeah that's that's what I love to do is just spread happiness and make people smile so that's what I'm going to continue to do [Music] a

Channel: Access Hollywood

Views: 88,782

Keywords: Melanie Wilking, Miranda Derrick, TikTok, Wilkings sister, TikTok cult, TikTok dancing cult, Netflix documentary, TikTok cult docuseries, 7m dancers, where is miranda derrick, wilkings, cult, interview, melanie wilking interview, robert shinn, shekinah, shekinah church, miranda wilking, wilking sisters, 7m films, tiktok dance cult, dancing for the devil netflix, robert shinn 7m, dancing for the devil, the wilking sisters, dancing with the devil, 7m dancers cult, tiktok cult

Id: vM-uIRNAdQo

Length: 23min 31sec (1411 seconds)

Published: Thu Jun 06 2024