Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz, leaders of the women’s wellness company OneTaste, were convicted on federal forced labor charges by a Brooklyn jury after a five-week trial. The two face up to 20 years in prison following their conviction, which found that they exploited vulnerable individuals, many with sexual trauma, using economic, sexual, and psychological manipulation.
Prosecutors argued that Daedone and Cherwitz coerced OneTaste members into performing uncomfortable sexual acts, including sexual encounters with potential investors, under the pretense of achieving “freedom” and “enlightenment.” They also allegedly failed to pay promised earnings and pressured members into acquiring credit cards to pay for further education. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nina Gupta described the defendants as exploitative, accusing them of building their business on the suffering of others.
In contrast, the defense portrayed Daedone as a feminist entrepreneur focusing on sexual empowerment. Cherwitz’s attorney argued that no one was forced, claiming individuals willingly left the organization when they chose. The defendants maintain their innocence and plan to appeal the verdict.
OneTaste, co-founded by Daedone in 2004, gained notoriety for its controversial practice of “orgasmic meditation,” which involved men stimulating women in group settings. The company experienced significant media attention in the 2010s, expanding globally and generating revenue through courses and events centered around female sexual pleasure. Daedone sold her stake in OneTaste in 2017, shortly before its practices faced scrutiny. The company, now known as the Institute of OM Foundation, contends that the allegations against its former executives are a misrepresentation and emphasize that consent has always been a fundamental aspect of their operations.
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