Children of the Waning Star emerged as a digital phenomenon in July 2025, originating on the social media platform TikTok. The movement was initiated by creator Gigi Jarvis, a sociology graduate and professional actress, who uploaded a video titled “Starting a cult day one.” She later explained that her intent was to create a kind of virtual, choose-your-own-adventure style role-playing game or “creative community.”
The initial posts appeared satirical, with Jarvis’s videos intended to be lighthearted. The group, however, quickly gained a following and named themselves “Children of the Waning Star.” Members soon adopted their own symbols, a star and a purple fingerprint emoji, and Jarvis began to establish a fictional lore for the group, complete with rituals, holidays, and beliefs. One weekly ritual, for example, was called “Victim of the Week,” in which Jarvis would change her profile picture to that of a follower who submitted the “funniest photo.”
The group’s popularity grew rapidly, and its symbolism and rhetoric spread across TikTok. The virtual community expanded to other platforms, including Discord, where thousands of people joined dedicated servers to exchange ideas and contribute to the lore. As the movement gained traction, some followers began to take the fictional aspects more seriously. Reports surfaced that some members were claiming to see a supernatural “entity” related to the Waning Star lore.
As the line between performance and reality began to blur, serious and concerning allegations emerged. It was rumored that some members were taking the rituals to an extreme level, with unverified reports of individuals harming themselves by carving symbols into their skin and sacrificing pets. These actions were reportedly documented and shared in private Discord servers, allegedly as a form of “bizarre ritual.” The reports caused alarm, with former cult victims and other concerned individuals speaking out on social media platforms about the potential dangers of romanticizing cults and the speed with which online movements can spiral out of control.
Jarvis responded to the growing criticism by rejecting the label of a “cult,” instead referring to the group as a “community” or “safe space.” She conducted an investigation into the more extreme allegations and stated that she found no evidence that any of the alleged harmful acts were real, suggesting it was a form of “mass hysteria.” However, the backlash intensified, fueled by the claims of self-harm and animal sacrifice.
On July 18, 2025, Jarvis posted a lengthy apology video on TikTok. In her statement, she expressed regret for using the word “cult” and for any harm she had caused. She stated that she never supported any dangerous behavior and apologized for her insensitivity to victims of real cults. Jarvis announced that she was ending the “series” and would use her platform to share resources for cult survivors and promote mental health awareness. She also mentioned that she had experienced personal harassment and had her private information leaked.
Despite her apology and her stated intention to end the project, Jarvis did not immediately remove her previous videos related to Children of the Waning Star. Additionally, many of the group’s members continued to engage in the rituals and promote the movement. The community’s symbols remained visible in thousands of TikTok bios and comment sections, and some members continued to refer to Jarvis as their “leader.”
Key Source:
Galpin, K. (2025, July 18). Who are the Children of the Waning Star? Inside the TikTok cult everyone wants to ban. The Tab.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 