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Draft:Untamed Truth

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Untamed Truth
AbbreviationUT
ClassificationChristian new religious movement
Leaders
  • Tyrelle "Ty" Mustafa
  • Tyler Winter
  • Daniel Morris
RegionJacksonville, Florida
Origin2017
Jacksonville, Florida
Official websiteuntamedtruth.com

Untamed Truth (UT) is an American religious group located in Jacksonville, Florida. It is considered by some to be a cult.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The group is led by Tyrelle "Ty" Duran Mustafa (also known as Ty Duran), Tyler Matthew Winter, and Daniel Scott Morris.

UT first achieved widespread notoriety in July 2019 when members of the group confronted gospel musician Kirk Franklin outside the Florida Theatre before his concert, and videos of the incident and the subsequent follow-up meeting went viral.[7][8][9][10]

UT releases videos on multiple YouTube channels. These include its primary Untamed Truth channel (since 2017), as well as secondary channels, such as Untamed Truth Exposed (since 2 February 2024) and UNF Preachers (since 30 March 2024).

Beliefs

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Untamed Truth claims to be a Christian religious group. However, it has not published any kind of written statement of faith or beliefs.

UT exclusively uses the King James Version of the Bible in its teaching videos and while street preaching. On 20 October 2024, the group announced the launch of Simple KJV, its own version of the King James Bible "made for true believers who desire a reading experience free of distractions" with "no commentaries, footnotes, headings or ads."[11]

UT subscribes to several questionable theories, including a flat-Earth cosmography and the faking of the Apollo moon landings.[12]

Controversies

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During the Fall 2019 term at the University of North Florida, Untamed Truth's confrontational preaching style resulted in claims that the group was harassing students, which UT subsequently denied.[13] After multiple student-led counterprotests against UT, both the UNF administration and police department acknowledged UT's right to continue preaching on campus but advised students against "engaging with [UT's] rhetoric, which thereby gives them a platform."[14]

Because of restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, UT did not return to the UNF campus until the Fall 2022 term, resulting in fresh controversy when students raised concerns over their safety as a result of "extreme interactions with [UT], leaving [students] feeling uneasy and—at times—unsafe."[15] The controversy continued through the Spring 2023 term when students formed their own group, "Untamed Love," to protect their classmates from the harassment they claimed to have been receiving from UT.[16] In response to continuing student complaints about UT, the UNF administration created an "Expression on Campus" website, which allows students to "learn about the laws that protect free speech, how to express yourself on campus, and what resources are available for support."[17][18][19]

On or around 19 July 2023, UT removed public access to all of its UNF campus preaching videos, among others, on YouTube; shortly thereafter, those videos were also removed from Facebook.[20][21] When one of UT's leaders, Daniel Morris, was asked directly why the videos were removed, he refused to answer and deleted the question.[22] The removal of the videos in question coincided with the filing of four civil actions in the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida between current and former UT members.[23][24][25][26]

Criticism

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Untamed Truth has received criticism from former members, relatives of current members, and other self-identified Christians in the Jacksonville area.

Former UT members that have provided testimonies critical of their time in the group include Michael Cotter,[27][28] Ben Meinrod,[4] and Hunter Johnston.[5]

Allegations of radical exclusivity and forcing members to separate from their families have been leveled against UT. Glen and Kimberly Morris, the parents of Daniel Morris, have provided testimony regarding how UT's beliefs have caused their son to sever all ties with them.[29] Daniel subsequently provided a response disputing his parents' claims.[30]

Several YouTube channels have produced videos critical of both UT's theology and conduct, including Hudson Horne and Question Everything. On 2 February 2024, the Untamed Truth Exposed channel began releasing response videos against UT's critics. Shortly thereafter, the channel Untamed Truth Exposed Exposed was, according to the channel description, created to "shed light regarding the advent of a new YouTube channel known as 'Untamed Truth Exposed' which purports to fairly evaluate claims against Untamed Truth, but actually is sympathetic to Untamed Truth and is possibly even run by Untamed Truth themselves." On 9 September 2024, the Untamed Truth Uncut channel began releasing deleted clips from UT videos.

References

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  1. ^ Salvation Church (25 August 2022). "Confronting the Untamed Truth Cult at UNF" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  2. ^ Salvation Church (6 September 2022). "God Killed My Dad - UT Cult Exposure" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  3. ^ Salvation Church (17 February 2023). "Cult Leader Continues to Cowardly Avoid Defending His Beliefs" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b MARANATHA (7 March 2023). "Untamed Truth Exposed - Death Cult of Tyrelle Duran Mustafa | Part 1" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b MARANATHA (21 March 2023). "Untamed Truth Exposed - Mind Control Cult of Ty Mustafa | Hunter's Testimony" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  6. ^ MARANATHA (25 March 2023). "Untamed Truth Exposed - Death Cult Of Pharisees at UNF" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  7. ^ Untamed Truth (15 July 2019). "Kirk Franklin Rebuked by Street Preacher" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  8. ^ Blair, Leonardo (16 July 2019). "Street preacher rebukes Kirk Franklin for failing to represent Christ at BET Awards; celebrities push back". The Christian Post. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  9. ^ Untamed Truth (19 July 2019). "Kirk Franklin Meets With Street Preacher | UPDATE: Meeting with Kirk & My Thoughts" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  10. ^ Blair, Leonardo (22 July 2019). "Street preacher sits down with Kirk Franklin, claims he is guilty of selling soul to devil". The Christian Post. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  11. ^ Untamed Truth (20 October 2024). "This Law Does Not Change" (video). youtube.com. 1:46:29. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  12. ^ Leaving The Lies : Speaking Your Truth (30 November 2020). "Episode #22 Michael Cotter Interview (Untamed Truth) Part 1" (video). youtube.com. 21:32. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  13. ^ Green, Courtney (10 October 2019). "Dean of Students and Ombuds respond to preachers and protesters on the Green". UNF Spinnaker. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  14. ^ Green, Courtney (14 October 2019). "'Do not engage': UNF and UPD comment on recent protest against YouTube preachers on the green". UNF Spinnaker. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  15. ^ Pace, Mallory; Turoff, Nathan (22 September 2022). "Students raise concerns for their safety on campus in discussion on campus preachers". UNF Spinnaker. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  16. ^ Hardy, Tristan (9 March 2023). "Some UNF students say they're being harassed by a religious group". First Coast News. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Expression on Campus". unf.edu. University of North Florida. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024.
  18. ^ Mudgett, Carter; Sanderson, Liam (1 May 2023). "What's protected and what isn't? New UNF website unpacks the intricacies of free speech on campus". UNF Spinnaker. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  19. ^ Leckie, Ethan (1 May 2023). "OPINION: There may be a solution to the 'preachers on the Green' after all". UNF Spinnaker. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Untamed Truth's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile)". socialblade.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024.
  21. ^ Rusty Shackleford (14 November 2023). "Comment" (comment). youtube.com. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  22. ^ Rusty Shackleford (19 December 2023). "Comment" (comment). youtube.com. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Duval County, Florida, Clerk of the Circuit Court CORE". duvalclerk.com. 13 July 2023. 16-2023-DR-005280-FMXX-MA. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Duval County, Florida, Clerk of the Circuit Court CORE". duvalclerk.com. 18 July 2023. 16-2023-DR-003599-DVXX-MA. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Duval County, Florida, Clerk of the Circuit Court CORE". duvalclerk.com. 19 July 2023. 16-2023-DR-003625-DVXX-MA. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  26. ^ "Duval County, Florida, Clerk of the Circuit Court CORE". duvalclerk.com. 19 July 2023. 16-2023-DR-003626-DVXX-MA. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  27. ^ Leaving The Lies : Speaking Your Truth (30 November 2020). "Episode #22 Michael Cotter Interview (Untamed Truth) Part 1" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  28. ^ Leaving The Lies : Speaking Your Truth (30 November 2020). "Episode #22 Michael Cotter Interview (Untamed Truth) Part 2" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  29. ^ MARANATHA (15 November 2023). "Untamed Truth Mind Games and Manipulation: The Disturbing Reality of UNF Cult" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  30. ^ Daniel (16 December 2023). "Untamed Truth: The Truth about Glen, Kim, Ben, and Taylor (My Response)" (video). youtube.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
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