Two leaders of a controversial "Orgasmic Meditation" company, OneTaste, have been found guilty by a federal US court for coercing employees into performing sexual acts. Nicole Daedone, the 57-year-old founder of OneTaste, and Rachel Cherwitz, the 44-year-old former head of sales, were convicted of conspiracy to commit forced labor, with allegations of emotional, psychological, and financial abuse meant to control and exploit their staff.
Prosecutors highlighted how Daedone and Cherwitz, under the guise of promoting female sexual empowerment, compelled employees to work excessive hours for little or no pay, including providing sexual services to investors and clients. One employee testified about being forced to become a "handler" for a primary investor, which required living with him and performing sexual acts. Another disturbing incident involved a rape victim reenacting her traumatic experience during a course, as part of a supposed healing exercise.
Founded in 2004 in San Francisco, OneTaste marketed "orgasmic meditation" (OM) as a method for female sexual empowerment, involving 15 minutes of genital stimulation. The company rapidly expanded to major cities worldwide, including New York, Los Angeles, London, and Australia, offering costly workshops and retreats. However, the prosecution described how employees were coerced into regular OM sessions, occasionally involving sexual acts with wealthy clients, under the threat that their jobs depended on it.
Former employees, many of whom sought healing from past trauma, reported manipulation, sleep deprivation, and constant surveillance. They also faced financial pressure, with some coerced into opening credit lines to afford OneTaste's expensive courses.
The court proceedings revealed a darker side of OneTaste's façade of empowerment, with the jury agreeing with the government's portrayal of Daedone and Cherwitz as exploitative predators. Brooklyn US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. commented on the verdict, stating that the defendants preyed on vulnerable individuals by making false promises of empowerment for personal gain.
Daedone and Cherwitz, who have pleaded not guilty, remain free on bail while awaiting sentencing in September, where they could face up to 20 years imprisonment. Their legal teams have announced plans to appeal the verdict, maintaining that all employees participated voluntarily and retained autonomy over their actions.
This conviction marks a significant downfall for OneTaste, once considered a pioneering entity in the sexual wellness sector, now exposed for its exploitative practices. The case has attracted substantial media attention, including coverage in a Netflix series titled "Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste." The legal outcomes and revelations have sparked widespread discourse on the ethical boundaries of wellness enterprises operating under the guise of empowerment.
