Netflix’s “In The Name Of God: A Holy Betrayal” Sparks Outrage And Boycotts
Content Warning
Spoiler Alert
Netflix‘s new true crime docuseries, In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, is not for the faint of heart.
Its trigger warnings include child abuse, nudity, sexual violence, and suicide, but even some viewers who knew what to expect were not prepared for the sheer vileness they were about to see.
Stopped watching @NetflixKR's In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal around Ep 4 bc I found the documentary disturbingly pornographic in the ways in which it films and shows the female victims. While I understand the importance of shedding light on JMS's crimes
— Areum Jeong 정아름 (@DrAreumJeong) March 5, 2023
A huge trigger warning for those planning to watch the latest Netflix docuseries In the Name of God about korean cults.
I usually love watching true crime documentaries but gosh this is just toooo much 😩😦 even the first 5 min was so disturbing 💀 pic.twitter.com/Zb4k3DPRQ1— 소원있는별사탕 (@starcandy_ss) March 5, 2023
DO NOT WATCH THIS IF YOURE SENSITIVE, I tried watching it and couldn't get past the first 10 seconds, it was so traumatizing I didn't expect something like that tbh. Be careful everyone. What the fuck.#Netflix #InTheNameOfGodAHolyBetrayal pic.twitter.com/t3TB9GPigO
— ㄱㄱ (@hihighcandy) March 5, 2023
In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal recounts the rise and fall of several Korean cult leaders who manipulated and exploited their followers in heinous ways. The first three episodes, in particular, shocked viewers with chilling dramatizations of real events that showed how the Christian Gospel Mission (also known as JMS), a religious movement founded in 1980, became a tool for violence wielded by its founder, Jeong Myeong Seok.
In 2009, Jeong was sentenced to 10 years in prison for rape. Prior to his arrest, Jeong fled South Korea and was accused of reportedly raping nearly one hundred college students in Taiwan. By the time he was released from prison in 2018, the JMS movement had spread to over 70 countries.
Would you like to help piss off an abusive cult leader? Stream “In the Name of God” tomorrow 🤩 I am a survivor of a cult called JMS and a documentary is coming out about them 3/3 on Netflix 😌🙏🏻 they tried to block the documentary from airing in court and were denied 🤩 pic.twitter.com/FDvB0p7tgA
— Shaylo (@Shaylo_Ren) March 2, 2023
Sadly, Jeong’s victims were just some of the many taken advantage of by cult leaders in the series.
Ep.5 of ‘In The Name of God: A Holy Betrayal’
My mind being blown that Kim Ki Soon started Synnara Records and wondered if she still retains ownership
This is from a K*reaboo article from Jan. of this year… Synnara has still yet to address the whole ordeal pic.twitter.com/O11eGxUzrD
— ✨Elaine✨ (@kpoproxsmysoxs) March 5, 2023
Now, viewers are expressing their disgust and outrage, but also sympathy for the victims who still struggle to this day.
Jeong Myeong Seok…
No words can describe how disgusting he is #InTheNameOfGodAHolyBetrayal pic.twitter.com/O68LSqLSko— cherry lady (@lemonedo_sun) March 3, 2023
On episode 2 of this documentary and no man…this guy was insanely addicted to sex! I feel sorry for the thousands of women he sexually assaulted.
Also…what level of voodoo manipulation was he using? Because there's no way. #InTheNameOfGodAHolyBetrayal pic.twitter.com/nDSF7r9H94— Rudzani♊🌿🇿🇦🇨🇳 (@ThatVendaGirl) March 6, 2023
If you want to watch a docuseries that makes you SEETHING MAD then watch #InTheNameOfGodAHolyBetrayal
It’s blasphemous to watch how these four cult leaders manipulated their powers as ‘messiahs’ or false ‘gods’ pic.twitter.com/iWgcoiwbif— gabriela silva (@GabySilva143) March 6, 2023
Additionally, some viewers are calling for K-Pop fans to take action by boycotting albums sold by Synnara Records. Synnara Records was founded by cult leader Kim Ki Soon in 1982. She has been accused of being responsible for several deaths, including that of a 7-year-old child.
all international kpop fans should go watch the new Netflix documentary "In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal" episode 5 and stop buying albums from Synnara Record which was founded by a cult leader who got away with murder.
— AnAn🇹🇼 ateez asia tour when (@ananmiyabi630) March 5, 2023
I think everyone, especially avid kpop fans in the world should avoid and stop buying albums from SYNNARA. If you're still buying from them, please refrain from doing so, no matter if you want to join fansign or collect photocards. https://t.co/wLNVdtTVZx
— 깨알 (@derring27) March 6, 2023
Read more about Synnara Records’ history here:
“They Killed A Child.” — Fans Boycott A K-Pop Album Distributor For Its Cult Affiliation
