What happened to Jeff and Shaleia Divine? Their ‘love cult’ features in Netflix docuseries Escaping Twin Flames – so what are the allegations, did they ever get charged, and where are they now?

The newly released Netflix documentary series Escaping Twin Flames has brought a fresh wave of global attention to the Twin Flames Universe (TFU), a controversial community headed by Jeff and Shaleia Ayan, aka Jeff and Shaleia Divine, that some have classified as a cult. The Michigan-based couple have convinced their followers that, in exchange for money, they can help them find their one true love, their “twin flame”.

The docuseries, which began streaming on November 8, is the latest in a series of exposés and deep dives about TFU, with former community members and their family speaking out about their harrowing experiences.

So, where are TFU founders Jeff and Shaleia now, and what has happened since the latest damning allegations against them?

Who are Jeff and Shaleia Ayan, aka Jeff and Shaleia Divine?

Now known as Jeff and Shaleia Divine, the couple are the founders of TFU. The pair claim they are twin flames and have a direct line to god. Jeff moved to Hawaii in 2011 after graduating from business school and changed his name to Ender Ayanethos, marketing himself as a lifestyle guru. Shaleia was born Megan Plante, but changed her name after doing work with a spiritual teacher. They met online in 2012 through a mutual friend and got married in 2016.

What is a twin flame?

The concept of twin flames has origins around the world, including Hinduism and Greek mythology. Twin flames are said to mirror each other, with one soul being split into two. Famously, Ryan Gosling once filed a restraining order against a woman who claimed to be his twin flame, while Megan Fox also refer to Machine Gun Kelly as her twin flame.

Jeff and Shaleia, who position themselves as relationship coaches, run Twin Flames Universe (TFU), an organisation that urges followers to follow their supposed twin flame at all costs.

Multiple exposés on TFU have called the group a cult that pushes followers to undergo forced gender transitions, follow harmful diets, and do “mirror exercises” that reportedly have deep psychological ramifications.

The couple’s response to the allegations

Following the release of the Netflix show, TFU has denied the allegations that they seek to control their members. It put out a statement that read, “The allegations levied against Twin Flames Universe not only distort our true aims, methods and curriculums, but also misrepresent the autonomy of our community members, who are free to engage with our resources as they see fit.”

The statement, released on November 13, also asserts that TFU has a “multidisciplinary team of experts, including PhD researchers and educators” that all form part of the diversity of the community. Although the allegations point towards TFU taking advantage of vulnerable people looking for love in exchange for money, Jeff and Shaleia insist there is a focus on “ethical conduct and the welfare” of followers.

TFU hasn’t faced any charges yet

So far, no criminal charges have been made against Jeff and Shaleia Ayan, the couple.

In the documentary Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe released this October on Amazon Prime Video, police officials in Farmington Hills, Michigan, visit the home of Jeff and Shaleia after claims about the couple running an online “love cult”.


Netflix also revisits the police investigation at the end of each episode of Escaping Twin Flames. Per the Netflix show, police could not ascertain that any crimes had actually taken place, and the case was sent to the FBI. This was to investigate whether “possible federal crimes” had occurred. Despite the slew of allegations against the couple, no charges have been filed against them.

Civil lawsuits filed by Twin Flames Universe

In February 2020, Vice published an investigation into the practices of TFU. In response, Jeff and Shaleia filed two lawsuits against former members and their family who had spoken out about the community. The civil trademark lawsuit and libel, slander and civil assault lawsuits were dismissed in 2021, reported Insider.

Business as usual

Jeff and Shaleia still live in Michigan, where they run the TFU from their home. Their Instagram account and YouTube channels remain active, and they are still posting messages to followers on how to “reveal your true twin flame and heal your way into harmony in your union”. Other recent posts include “three reasons why the twin flame runner runs” and “three signs that show twin flames are real”.

On the TFU website, products remain available for purchase, with a book on “finding your ultimate lover” available on paperback for US$17.99 and music on “twin flame meditations” available for US$14.99.

The couple welcomed a baby, Grace

The TFU founders welcomed a daughter, Grace Violet Divine, this April. In a blog post by Jeff, he spoke about how nervous he was to watch his wife undergo a caesarean section. The couple had previously opened up about their pregnancy battle, detailing how they underwent IVF twice before deciding to try and start a family naturally.

In the blog post, Jeff claimed Grace knew she was part of their destiny. Jeff wrote that it was “the teachings of union” that eventually ensured Grace’s birth: “After some time of doctor-mandated recovery from IVF, we decided to go it on our own. We wanted a family of our own, we wanted to express our teachings in family as we had in marriage. We wanted to show others what family could be when The Teachings of Union were applied.”