After making history as the first Black British actor to win an Oscar, you’d expect Daniel Kaluuya to be everywhere—headlining blockbusters, gracing red carpets, and leading Hollywood franchises.
But instead, Kaluuya has been keeping a low profile, and now, social media is once again buzzing with a bizarre rumor about why.
The Cult Rumor That Won’t Die
It all kicked off when someone on X (formerly Twitter) wondered why Kaluuya hadn’t starred in more big films since his Oscar win.
Another user quickly replied with a cryptic, “He joined a cult.”
That one post spiraled out of control—racking up 24 million views before it was taken down. But the damage was done.
“Daniel Kaluuya and cult” started trending, dragging an old story back into the spotlight.
Flashback to Nope and a Mysterious ‘Spiritual Gangster’
The whispers originally began back in 2022 during filming for Nope, Kaluuya’s first major role after winning the Academy Award for Judas and the Black Messiah.
Around that time, several U.S. outlets—like the New York Post and The Hollywood Reporter—linked him to a woman named Heir Holiness, also known as Vanylla Salimah Mahmoud.
She described herself as a “spiritual adviser and life strategist,” and even once claimed to be Kaluuya’s manager.
Some reports suggested she had an unusual amount of influence on the actor.
He cut ties with his agency CAA and fired his publicists around that time, raising eyebrows.
Hollywood journalist Matthew Belloni even said crew members on Nope felt uneasy around Holiness, calling her a “spiritual gangster” and implying she had “taken over his life.”
Kaluuya’s Response and His Career on His Own Terms
Despite the renewed chatter, those close to Kaluuya say he hasn’t gone anywhere—he’s just choosing a different path.
“He’s always marched to the beat of his own drum,” said one Hollywood insider.
“After the Oscar, people assumed he’d go full blockbuster, but he’s been more selective. He’s producing, writing, and working on projects he believes in.”
Currently, Kaluuya is voicing a character in the next Spider-Verse movie and developing a live-action Barney film (yes, the purple dinosaur) through his production company, 59%.
He’s also now represented by the high-powered William Morris Endeavor agency and has several other projects in development as a writer and director.
Returning to His Roots in London
Next month, Kaluuya is returning to the place where it all began—the Roundhouse theatre in Camden, North London—to run a workshop for young aspiring actors.
It’s a full-circle moment for the Camden-born actor who was raised by his Ugandan single mother on a council estate.
Before his Hollywood breakthrough in Get Out (which earned him his first Oscar and BAFTA nominations), Kaluuya had already built a solid career in the UK with standout roles in Skins, Doctor Who, and Black Mirror.
Addressing the Rumors Head-On
Kaluuya hasn’t denied knowing Heir Holiness.
But in a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he made it clear that the “cult” talk is nonsense.
“It showed me I was in this fame paradigm,” he said.
“An unnamed, unverified source ends up having more credibility than the truth.”
He questioned how quickly people accepted the rumor without facts.
“So, a bunch of people decide it’s real—and suddenly it is? That’s not what happened,” he said.
Heir Holiness Speaks: “It’s All Fake”
When The Mail on Sunday caught up with Heir Holiness in Las Vegas last week, she was laughing off the accusations.
“I don’t do any of that. They made it up,” she said.
“Someone was playing games and trying to cause damage. But they didn’t succeed.”
She continued, saying people just didn’t understand Kaluuya’s unique approach to fame.
“He’s not the kind of actor you expect to pop up in movies every year.
He’s different. He’s bigger than that.”
Holiness brushed off the cult claims as a smear campaign from people in the film industry who got upset when Kaluuya didn’t follow the traditional path.
“Somebody didn’t like me on a movie set,” she said.
“But my job was to make sure Daniel was okay and able to work.
He’s like family. All of it is fake.”
Doing Things His Own Way
Ultimately, Daniel Kaluuya is doing exactly what he wants—choosing roles carefully, building his creative portfolio, and staying grounded.
Whether he’s in a big studio film or mentoring future talent in London, one thing’s clear: he’s not playing by Hollywood’s rules.
And honestly? That might be the most powerful move of all.