Sister Cindy shares her take on religion, sexuality and politics 

TikTok personality “Sister Cindy” visited Arkansas State University for the first time in almost two years, on Monday afternoon to spread her gospel. 

Cindy Smock rose to fame after videos of her satirical preaching style went viral on TikTok.

“I became TikTok famous without ever posting a video,” Smock said. “It was not my plan.” 

Smock said the coolest aspect of her internet popularity is that regardless of controversy and previous accounts being deleted, students continue to share her mission by posting videos and interacting with her. 

“But even the satire is genuine, because it all has a meaning. I use satire to make my point,” Smock said.

Warnock Howell, a first-year sports management student from Russellville, Arkansas, said people like Sister Cindy give Christianity a bad name.

“I think people like this are the reason religion gets pushed around,” Howell said. “People like Cindy use religion to push an agenda without understanding or even truly believing in the words they’re referencing.” 

Howell said religion gave him a purpose in life and it was difficult to listen to someone who he believed was lying and pushing people farther from God. 

“Jesus never shamed anyone,” Howell said. “If this is someone’s first encounter with Christianity, it’s detrimental.” 

Howell said students who were interested in Christianity should speak to someone qualified rather than someone he believed was preaching comedically for financial gain.

Adam Hicks, a first-year political science major from Searcy, Arkansas said Smock has a tendency to only memorize four bible verses and uses them to push her biased agenda. 

“As someone who grew up in a Christian household, I felt like I had to argue with her,” Hicks said.

Hicks also said he disliked how Sister Cindy spoke negatively about the psychology and sociology majors. 

“Even in the Bible it says your father’s sins are passed genetically to you, which determines how you act and she disagreed, so she obviously doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” Hicks said.

Tavis Anderson, a sophomore creative media major from Jonesboro, said he was a Christian but didn’t believe Smock’s preaching should be considered controversial. 

“To be honest I just think it’s funny,” Anderson said. “She’s for sure a character. My goal is to be a comedian so I understand the idea of making funny statements to keep a conversation going.”

Smock said she believes Christian students were angry with her for calling them out on her TikTok account. 

“I had more hecklers on this campus than usual,” Smock said. “I think the Christians were irritated because I called them out for sliding into the ho life and I touched a nerve because a lot of them came from Christian homes, but they’re not living it.”

Smock preached for over two hours before taking a break and returning to A-State and sharing her testimony with a smaller group. 

Smock told students about her past life as a “vampire ho”, which she defined as someone who leads devout men astray. She said her husband, Jed Smock, helped her embrace Christianity and escape the “ho life.”

Smock signed bibles, pins, books and even a condom during her visit. She rewarded students with autographed “Ho No Mo” buttons for answering her questions, took photos with students, recorded messages for their social media pages and did the Delta Zeta Omicron Epsilon hand sign, despite calling women in sororities “so-whore-ity girls.”

Jaden Holley, a sophomore social work major from Brookland, said she showed up to protest Smock’s visit. 

Holley called Smock a “hag” and numerous times asked her why she couldn’t mind her own business. 

Smock voiced her opinion on the upcoming 2024 election and gave autographed Trump campaign buttons to students who requested them. 

“God determines who the president is going to be,” Smock said, “God sends us bad leaders to punish us for our sins.” 

Smock concluded her visit after leading a prayer circle, posing for photographs and handing out the last of her pins. 

Smock is scheduled to visit the University of Central Arkansas and University of Arkansas next.

Laila Casiano | Opinion Editor and Shailey Wooldridge | News Editor contributed to this report

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