If you'd like to see a 'cult' as the exercise of "substantial and pervasive" control from a specific leader over followers, I'd see that as totally coherent. But I'm left wondering how Hunter's life in any way suggests that.

She has contrived the "cult" talk for the benefit of TikTok and tabloid audiences who do not know the references and aren't examining the details, and who wouldn't be able to tell Bill Gothard apart from the Amish or Mennonites or Heaven's Gate.