In an era when almost anyone can reach millions on the internet, where is the line drawn between a social media influencer and an influential leader who draws followers to something more sinister?
Six people are missing out of Missouri after investigators believe they were sucked into what appears to be a “spiritual cult” on social media called the University of Cosmic Intelligence. The group is run by convicted child molester Rashad Jamal.
They include Ma’Kayla Wickerson, 25, and her 3-year-old daughter, Malaiyah; 24-year-old Mikayla Thompson; 27-year-old Gerrielle German and 3-year-old Ashton Mitchell; and 29-year-old Naaman Williams. They were last seen at a Quality Inn near St. Louis in August.
Jamal is currently in prison on child molestation and cruelty to children convictions. Authorities say he built up an online following of hundreds of thousands of followers on platforms including YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, and shares his theories about Black and Latino people being gods and goddesses, while people of other races and ethnicities are not from this planet. He also shares conspiracy theories in his videos about government controlling the weather and elites and politicians being “reptilian shapeshifters” who drink blood.
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