Celebrities are like every other person on the planet. They seek a way to fit in with society. That’s where cults come into play. Some famous people we’ll talk about today either have been involved with a cult or are related to someone who has been.
While many consider Scientology a cult, we’re not including it on this list.
1. Nichelle Nichols – Heaven’s Gate – Indirectly
While not directly involved in a cult, late Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols had a relative involved in Heaven’s Gate. Nichelle’s brother, Thomas Nichols, was a part of the group that committed mass suicide in 1997 and believed that after their deaths, UFOs would take their souls away.
Heaven’s Gate also used aspects of Star Trek as part of their aesthetic, including the term “Heaven’s Gate Away Team.”
2. Keira Maguire – The Seaside Sect – Directly
If you’ve never heard of Keira Maguire, don’t worry. She was on the 2016 season of The Bachelor Australia. According to the Sydney Morning Herald in 2016, it was revealed that Keira had been raised in the cult, unofficially known as The Seaside Sect. In this polygamist cult, the founder and Keira’s father had nine de facto wives and was a pedophile. She has 63 siblings. Her mother got her and the other children born from her body out of the group. Two other wives and their children also left.
3. Sharon Tate – Manson Family – Indirectly
Sharon Tate is probably the most famous of all the celebrities on this list for her ties to a cult. Like with Nichelle Nichols, Sharon’s association was indirect. Members of the Mansion family killed her while she was 8 and a half months pregnant and some of her friends. She was only 26 then, and her husband, director Roman Polanski, was away for work and flew back to the United States when he heard of the murders.
4. Kylie Jenner – Orgonite Society – Uncertain
Now, this next one is a bit of a question mark. Of all the cults on this list, we’d never heard of it. We found it on a list of celebrities by SheKnows who have been involved in cults. Kylie Jenner is rumoured to have spent a small amount of time associated with the Orgonite Society, a group frequented by Jaden and Willow Smith.
Kylie had been dating Jaden at the time.
5. Neil Young – Mansion Family – Indirectly
Okay, this came as a massive surprise. Neil Young has never been associated with a cult directly. But he did spend a lot of time with Charles Manson.
6. Allison Mack – NXIVM – Directly
This one was all over the news when it broke. Allison Mack, who played Chloe on Smallville, was a part of a group called NXIVM. The group described itself as a self-help group for women, but it was a cult run by Keith Raniere. Allison recruited multiple women, including various Smallville cast members.
Allison was one of the highest-ranking members of the group. The story of NXIVM has been told in a couple of documentaries, including the two-season series The Vow and Secluded.
7. George Harrison – Society for Krishna Consciousness – Uncertain
Like the Kylie Jenner one, this one is a bit of a question mark. The society in question has been described as a cult by some but not by others. Also, it has never been 100% confirmed that George Harrison was ever a member, no matter how long.
8. David And Patricia Arquette – Skymont Subud – Directly
David and Patricia Arquette’s parents started a “commune” with some friends, and their children grew up in the group, with David being born into the cult. However, it grew into a living hell. Drugs and violence became a problem. The idea of the commune was to give the children a utopia. When Patricia could, she got out. There was no electricity, restrooms or running water.
9. Joaquin Phoenix – Children Of God
As we reach the end of our list, we had to include Joaquin Phoenix in the list of celebrities involved with cults. His whole family were part of the Children of God. A few of his siblings were born into the cult. However, over time, they became disillusioned and left.
10. Winona Ryder – Directly
Of all the celebrities on this list, Winona Ryder is the only one with fond memories of living in a commune. She and her family lived with other families, and while it gave off cult vibes, she enjoyed it.
