Sexual Wellbeing Company Founders Face Legal Backlash for Forced Labor

The co-founders of a well-known sexual wellbeing venture, OneTaste, faced a serious lawsuit for implementing a forced labor conspiracy. Founders Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz made headlines when they were convicted for creating an environment compelling vulnerable employees to participate in humiliating sexual procedures without appropriate compensation. The conclusion of their five-week trial was sensational, as it involved deliberations around intimate practices rarely witnessed in legal settings. The duo is slated for their final sentencing in the concluding part of September, potentially facing two decades behind bars.

The jury’s verdict reflected a broader understanding of ‘coercion’, extending beyond the traditional confines of physical threat, property damage, or blackmail. Daedone and Cherwitz were held responsible for perpetuating an environment of coercive power, even without explicit threats – a shift from earlier court cases dealing with leaders of sexual cults and forced labor conspiracies.

OneTaste was established by Daedone in San Francisco back in 2004 having the intent to bridge what she perceived as a disparity in sexual fulfillment experienced by men and women. Her connection to the sex industry and her own personal experiences with an abusive household are believed to have influenced her philosophies. According to Daedone, OneTaste’s practices are deeply rooted in traditional Buddhist teachings.

The practice that brought the company into the limelight was termed ‘orgasmic meditation’ or ‘OMing.’ This practice usually involved a man, wearing gloves, skillfully stimulating a woman’s genitals while she assumed a butterfly posture on a series of pillows for a quarter of an hour. A variation of this practice, ‘male OMing,’ had a reversal of roles where a woman would perform the same procedure on a man.

The company gained traction and popularity rather quickly, with positive media coverage significantly contributing to an increase in membership. OneTaste’s influence extended over a broad range of cities including Austin, Chicago, Denver, New York, amongst others. In New York City, events were often held in trendy locales such as Hell’s Kitchen and the West Village.

However, as OneTaste expanded its reach, it also started to attract a wave of allegations pointing to the fostering of an unhealthy work environment. Federal prosecutors based in Brooklyn indicted both Daedone and Cherwitz in 2023 with one count each of conspiracy to commit forced labor. Cherwitz, who initially joined as a member in 2007, swiftly climbed her way up to become the head of sales.

The charges levied speculated that the duo had targeted and recruited susceptible women to join OneTaste, manipulated them into purchasing the company’s premium courses, and subjected them to both sexual and psychological mistreatment. The personal accounts of over half a dozen women who were OneTaste employees played an instrumental role in strengthening the government’s case against the defendants.

Those women testified that their identities had been significantly reshaped by the company, to the point where they believed that leaving would mean forgoing their spiritual growth. A number of them lived in a shared housing arrangement in Harlem dedicated to OneTaste members, where they carried out domestic chores whenever Daedone, who had her own private quarters, visited.

During the trial, it was revealed that the implicated women believed that their roles also required them to partake in ‘OM’ sessions with men they personally found unappealing. Allegedly, the women chose this course of action to stay associated with OneTaste and avoid crossing paths with Daedone.

Statements made by Daedone at a OneTaste seminar in 2013 were particularly disturbing. ‘The real way to deflect rape is to turn on 100 percent, because then there is nothing to rape,’ she had said. A prosecutor contended that such ideological preachings were part of the crimes perpetrated.

Prosecutor Nina Gupta drew attention to how Daedone’s doctrine was used to manipulate her staff. Gupta emphasized how Daedone distorted her teachings to ensure she maintained power over her employees, coercing them into perpetually submitting to her demands. This case wasn’t just about the financial exploitation of these women – it was also about the degradation of their time, dignity, and ultimately their mental health.

It is interesting to note that the indictment against Daedone and Cherwitz marks one of the few times that the federal statute criminalizing forced labor has been applied within the context of an allegedly abusive employer-employee relationship rather than blatant human trafficking. It brings into question the existing definitions of coercion and forced labor, and will likely set a precedent for future trials.

Further, the OneTaste case illustrates the potential for abuse when personal boundaries are blurred in the name of ‘spiritual growth’ or ’empowerment’. Personal testimonies of the women involved highlight how, in their quest for enlightenment, they fell prey to a manipulation scheme framed as a path to self-realization.

This case has created considerable debate about the ethics and guidelines within the sexual wellness sector, creating an urgent call for transparency and regulations. It is also a stark reminder of the need to protect employees from coercive and exploitative practices, regardless of the industry.

Ultimately, the OneTaste case serves as a wake-up call. It exposes the depths of coercion that can exist behind the glitzy facade of empowerment and radical ideas, underlining the crucial importance of accountability and justice in all sectors of society.