Anthia Gillick warns cults are not just an American problem

Cult survivor, actor and filmmaker Anthia Gillick says coercive groups can emerge anywhere, including the U.K., and that the internet has made manipulation easier to spread across borders. She is using her series The Taste to challenge stereotypes and help people spot warning signs sooner.

Why it matters: - Gillick’s message reframes cults as a global threat, not a country-specific one. - She says that matters because manipulation, isolation and control can take hold anywhere people are seeking belonging. - The rise of online communities makes it easier for coercive groups to reach people across borders without a physical compound.

What happened: - Anthia Gillick said cults do not need a particular nationality, accent or flag to exist. - Gillick said the warning signs can look like promises of belonging, purpose, love, opportunity or transformation. - She said people often miss abuse because manipulation does not always look obviously dangerous at first. - Gillick is a cult survivor who testified against one of America's most notorious sex cults. - She is now using storytelling and filmmaking to explore survival and manipulation. - Her original limited series, The Taste, is based on her own experience. - Gillick is pitching The Taste as an original limited series tied to her true story.

The details: - Gillick pointed to recent discussion in the United Kingdom as evidence that extremist and coercive groups are not limited by nationality. - A recent article in The Big Issue argued that the UK is no more immune to cults than other countries. - Gillick said communities can now form across borders and reach people thousands of miles away. - She said social media, private online communities, podcasts and other digital platforms have changed how people find connection and how influence spreads. - Gillick said a person does not have to walk through the gates of a compound to become deeply involved with a controlling group or leader. - She said human beings everywhere want connection, meaning and somewhere to belong.

Between the lines: - Gillick is pushing back against a common stereotype that cult vulnerability belongs to “other” places or “other” people. - Her argument suggests the real risk is not geography but susceptibility to emotional needs and isolation. - The digital shift raises the stakes because influence can now scale faster and farther than older cult models. - Her storytelling approach appears aimed at changing public understanding as much as retelling her own experience.

What's next: - Gillick said she hopes stories like The Taste will challenge stereotypes about who becomes vulnerable to coercive control. - She wants audiences to recognize manipulation sooner and to show more compassion toward survivors. - Gillick is available for interviews. - More information is available on Gillick’s official website.

The bottom line: - Gillick’s core warning is simple: cults are not confined to one country, and awareness has to cross borders too.