Edinburgh Fringe 2024: Comedian Spring Day, known for her sharp wit and resilience, took the stage to reveal a dark chapter of her past. At 13, in the heart of Missouri, she was trapped by a fundamentalist Christian cult. For the next 13 years, her life was shaped by the twisted beliefs and control of the group, an experience she has only now chosen to share publicly.
Spring, who relocated to the UK seven years ago and lives with cerebral palsy, dismissed the notion that intelligence shields one from cults. “It’s not about being smart; it’s about being vulnerable and optimistic,” she stated. Her words highlighted a chilling reality: America is still home to an estimated 10,000 cults.
Her entry into the cult was a result of seeking solace from an abusive home. She was quickly “love-bombed” by a woman she calls her “church mum,” who discouraged her from pursuing acting, insisting that actors were “possessed by demons.” This church mum also twisted Spring’s understanding of her own mother’s abusive behavior, attributing it to feminist beliefs.
Spring described how, at 16, she was given a warped “sex talk,” likening premarital sex to becoming “chewed-up gum.” The pressure mounted when she was coerced into signing a contract, dedicating her body to the church.
The church’s influence extended beyond its walls. Spring alleged that it played a role in significant political events, including the January 6th Capitol attacks and the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Years after breaking free from the cult’s grasp, Spring is guided by a different philosophy. “I follow the teachings of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson,” she quipped, a testament to her journey of self-discovery and resilience.
In sharing her story, Spring Day sheds light on the hidden dangers of cults and reclaims her narrative, turning pain into punchlines that resonate far beyond the comedy stage.
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