In the digital age, cults have found new territories to exert influence, and the story of the Retta cult of Cantlemoism stands as a fascinating example. This online community centered around a wealthy Reddit user known as Chris CGC (real name Chris Cantlemo), who gained notoriety for his extraordinary generosity on the platform. Between 2018 and 2019, Chris reportedly spent upwards of $70,000 giving away Reddit awards, particularly targeting younger users in subreddits like r/teenagers and r/dankmemes.

What began as seemingly benign generosity gradually revealed darker undertones. Chris eventually disclosed his true motive: spreading the pseudoscientific claim that DMT (dimethyltryptamine) cured cancer, despite no credible scientific evidence supporting this assertion. As his influence grew, concerned Reddit users identified troubling cult-like patterns emerging in his following. The situation became so concerning that Reddit eventually banned both the r/Cantlemoism subreddit and Chris's accounts, an unusual step for the platform that typically allows controversial communities to exist.

Key Takeaways

A wealthy Reddit user spent approximately $70,000 on awards to gain influence primarily among younger users.
What appeared as generosity masked an agenda to promote dangerous pseudoscientific claims about DMT curing cancer.
Reddit ultimately banned the Cantlemoism community due to its cult-like recruitment tactics and harmful misinformation.

The Danger of Cult Organizations

Mental Control and Influence Tactics

Cult organizations have earned their notorious reputation through systematic methods of control. They employ sophisticated psychological tactics to indoctrinate followers, manipulating their perceptions and decision-making abilities. These groups function primarily to serve the interests of a charismatic leader or to propagate harmful belief systems.

The control mechanisms used by cults are designed to replace independent thinking with group ideology. Many former cult members report experiencing isolation from friends and family, along with intense pressure to conform to the group's beliefs.

Preying on Susceptible Individuals

Cult recruiters deliberately seek out individuals in vulnerable states. People experiencing significant life transitions, personal losses, or emotional distress become prime targets for recruitment efforts. During moments of vulnerability, critical thinking skills are often compromised.

Those facing desperate circumstances frequently seek radical solutions to their problems. This desperation creates an opening for cult leaders who offer simple answers to complex problems.

Recruitment tactics often begin with seemingly benign interactions, such as invitations to social events or offers of friendship. These initial contacts gradually evolve into more intensive indoctrination as the relationship develops.

The MMS Deception Phenomenon

One disturbing example of dangerous misinformation propagated by cult-like groups is the Miracle Mineral Supplement (MMS) movement. This substance was falsely marketed as a cure for numerous serious conditions including Alzheimer's disease and autism.

What MMS actually contained:

Industrial bleach components
No medicinal ingredients
Potentially harmful chemicals

Laboratory analysis confirmed that MMS not only failed to treat any medical conditions but also posed serious health risks to consumers. Despite scientific evidence disproving its efficacy, believers continued to promote and consume this dangerous substance.

This case demonstrates how cult-like organizations can convince followers to accept harmful practices through a combination of false promises, pseudoscientific claims, and isolation from conventional medical advice.

Exploring the Religious Internet Phenomenon

Uncovering the Digital Trail

The story begins with a curious discovery on the Reddit Bureau of Investigation subreddit. Users had identified an unusual subreddit where every post received an extraordinary amount of awards - specifically Reddit Gold and Silver. The sheer volume of these awards represented thousands of dollars in spending, raising questions about the purpose behind such extravagant digital generosity. This peculiar community later became private, blocking public access and further fueling speculation about its true nature.

The Mystery of a Heavily Awarded Subreddit

The trail led to a banned subreddit called "Cantlemoism" and its founder, a user named Chris CGC (real name Chris Cantlemo). This individual gained notoriety for distributing an estimated $70,000 worth of Reddit awards, primarily targeting younger demographics through subreddits like r/teenagers and r/dankmemes.

Chris's Digital Footprint:

Owner of medical company GL Sciences
Spent thousands daily on Reddit awards
Created multiple alternate accounts after bans
Specifically targeted younger Reddit users

His generosity initially appeared harmless, even inspiring a dedicated subreddit for recipients of his awards. Many users would direct others to message Chris for free Reddit Premium through his awards.

The Community's Response to the Movement

The seemingly benevolent activity took a concerning turn when Chris revealed his underlying motivation in an interview with Insider Meme Trading. He claimed to be spreading awareness that DMT (dimethyltryptamine) cured cancer - a claim without consistent scientific support in peer-reviewed literature.

A watchdog subreddit called "Cantlemoism Exposed" emerged to document concerns. Their sidebar described the movement as "a cult of personality centered around Chris Cantlemo" that "espouses a form of psychedelic new-age pseudoscience ranging from innocuous beliefs to dangerous self-harm" while targeting teenagers for recruitment.

Many early followers joined simply for the free premium benefits, but a portion remained to engage with Chris's teachings. Reddit eventually took action by banning both the original subreddit and Chris's account, citing moderation issues - though the ban appears more significant given that other controversial topics maintain active communities on the platform.

Chris CGC: The Man Behind the Reddit Gold Fortune

Chris's Background and Financial Success

Chris Cantelmo, known on Reddit as Chris CGC, established a significant online presence through his financial generosity. As the owner of GL Sciences and several other successful companies, he accumulated substantial wealth that he later wielded on Reddit. His business ventures in the medical industry provided him with the financial freedom to spend extravagantly on digital gifts. Chris became notorious for his seemingly unlimited budget, spending what was calculated by his own moderators to be approximately $70,000 on Reddit awards.

Reddit Awards and Premium Benefits

Chris made his name through his extraordinary generosity with Reddit awards. These digital badges serve as virtual gifts from one user to another, displayed prominently on posts as recognition. The hierarchy begins with Reddit Silver (the least expensive option), followed by Gold (providing one week of Premium membership), and Platinum (offering a full month of Premium). One particularly notable post received 69 Platinum badges, costing roughly $350 and granting the recipient 69 months of Premium membership. This Premium status offers several benefits, including an ad-free browsing experience and access to additional Reddit features.

Youth-Focused Gifting Strategy

Chris's award distribution wasn't random - he deliberately targeted communities with younger demographics. He primarily focused on r/teenagers and r/dankmemes, subreddits known for their youthful user base. His generosity became so well-known that his name circulated as a source of free Reddit Premium, with users advising others to "message Chris" for gold awards. This targeted approach eventually raised concerns about his underlying motives. His reputation grew to such an extent that an entire subreddit called "Children of Chris" was created, dedicated to users who had received his gold awards.

The Troubling Nature of Chris's Generosity

What initially appeared as harmless generosity eventually revealed disturbing motivations. In an interview with Insider Meme Trading, Chris admitted his real purpose: spreading the message that DMT (dimethyltryptamine), a powerful hallucinogen, cured cancer. This claim lacks substantial peer-reviewed evidence. His daily spending of thousands of dollars on Reddit awards eventually cultivated a following, though many were attracted by his generosity rather than his beliefs. This situation evolved into what many observers described as a cult-like movement called "Cantelmoism," which was later banned by Reddit administrators. The concerning nature of his teachings led to the creation of a subreddit called "Cantelmoism Exposed," which documented his pseudoscientific claims and recruitment tactics targeting young users.

The Concealed Agenda and Group Dynamics

Misleading Claims About DMT and Cancer Treatment

Chris Cantlemo, operating under the username Chris CGC, eventually revealed his true motivation behind the massive Reddit gilding campaigns that cost him thousands of dollars daily. In an interview with Insider Meme Trading, he stated his primary goal was spreading the message that "DMT cured cancer." This claim about dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful hallucinogenic compound, lacks scientific foundation in peer-reviewed literature.

While DMT has been studied in cancer research contexts, no consistent evidence supports it as a cancer cure. The approach raises immediate red flags - if a legitimate cancer cure had been discovered, such information would spread through medical channels rather than requiring expensive Reddit publicity stunts targeting young users.

Follower Base and Member Acquisition

The recruitment patterns exhibited classic vulnerability targeting. Chris specifically focused his gilding activities on subreddits like r/teenagers and r/dankmemes, communities with predominantly younger members who might be more susceptible to influence.

His strategy followed a simple pattern:

Step 1: Attract attention through extreme generosity
Step 2: Build curiosity about the person behind the gifts
Step 3: Introduce fringe beliefs once interest was established

Many followers initially joined simply for the free Reddit premium benefits - some accounts received up to 69 months of premium from a single post reward. This created a community called "Children of Chris" dedicated to people who received his gifts. While not everyone embraced his teachings, the financial incentives created a gateway to his ideological system.

Cantlemoism Unveiled

The Reddit community eventually recognized the concerning patterns and created r/CantlemoismExposed to document and warn others. The subreddit's sidebar explicitly labeled Cantlemoism as "a cult of personality" promoting "psychedelic new-age pseudoscience" with beliefs ranging from "innocuous" to "dangerous self-harm."

Reddit administrators ultimately took significant action:

Banned the r/Cantlemoism subreddit entirely
Terminated Chris CGC's account
Continued banning his numerous alternate accounts

What makes this case particularly notable is Reddit's decisive intervention. While other controversial belief systems maintain active subreddits (such as r/Scientology), administrators determined Cantlemoism presented sufficient concern to warrant complete removal. The saga demonstrates how digital platforms can become recruitment grounds for potentially harmful ideological systems, especially when financial incentives are used to build initial interest and trust.

Reddit's Response and Community Aftermath

Platform Enforcement Actions

Reddit administrators eventually took decisive action against the Cantle Mo movement. The main subreddit r/cantlemoism was completely banned from the platform, with Reddit officially citing "unmoderation" as the reason. However, many users believe the actual reasons were far more serious given the concerning activities occurring within the community. Chris CGC himself faced multiple account bans, with Reddit administrators consistently removing his numerous alternate accounts as they were identified.

The platform's response was notably stronger than its approach to other controversial groups. While subreddits dedicated to topics like Scientology remained accessible, administrators determined that cantlemoism required complete removal. This difference in treatment suggests Reddit recognized particularly harmful elements in Chris's community that warranted immediate intervention.

Community Investigation Efforts

A dedicated group of Reddit users created r/cantlemoismexposed, which became the primary resource for documenting the movement's activities and warning potential recruits. This subreddit served as an information repository where former members and concerned users compiled evidence about Chris's behavior patterns and concerning beliefs.

The sidebar of this watchdog community explicitly labeled cantlemoism as "a cult of personality" that promoted "psychedelic new-age pseudoscience" ranging from harmless ideas to dangerous self-harm recommendations. Most concerning to many users was the deliberate targeting of teenager communities for recruitment.

Users compiled comprehensive lists of Chris's alternate accounts and documented his tactics to help others recognize recruitment attempts. Former members contributed personal experiences, creating a valuable resource that helped vulnerable users make informed decisions about their online interactions within Reddit communities.

Inside Reddit's Banned DMT Cult: The Dark Truth of Cantlemoism