Trial begins for California duo behind alleged women's 'orgasm cult' OneTaste

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Two California women who founded a sexual wellness organization that promoted women’s orgasms as a way to heal trauma and provide higher meaning are accused of abusive and controlling behaviour against their employees.

Nicole Daedone, the founder and CEO of so-called “orgasm cult” OneTaste, and Rachel Cherwitz, the company’s former head of sales, are on trial in New York City. Prosecutors accuse the pair of instructing members to have sex with investors and clients.

It is also alleged Daedone and Cherwitz caused “economic, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse” against the organization’s members and employees and forced them into debt. The alleged victims worked seven days a week for free due to “surveillance, indoctrination and intimidation.”

“They worked because they were taught the way to enlightenment was to obey the defendants’ demands,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Fern told the court, according to the New York Post.

“They worked because they were told doing things they found sexually disgusting was the path to freedom. They coerced their victims to provide sexual services to OneTaste clients. They grew OneTaste on the backs of unpaid or underpaid labour, much of that labour included serving OneTaste’s investors.”

Daedone and Cherwitz each pleaded not guilty to a charge of forced labour conspiracy. If convicted, they face a maximum 20 years in prison.

The duo’s lawyers denied the accusations in court and countered that former employees and members enjoyed the sex at the Bay Area-based organization and later became embarrassed by their actions.

Dubbed a mindfulness practice by the pair, Cherwitz’s lawyer Mike Robotti told the court that the “orgasmic meditations” had no weight on whether workers or members stayed at OneTaste.

“No one put a gun against anyone’s head to make them work,” Robotti said. “They stayed because they believed in the company.”

Robotti claimed that members sought a spiritual awakening through orgasms.

“They were having fun, and they were having sex,” Robotti said. “The exit door was always open.”

According to their indictment, Daedone and Cherwitz required members to live in group homes and requested that they limit contact with people outside the community.

Prosecutors said OneTaste workers, as part of their employment, were required to engage in sexual acts with current and potential investors, clients, employees and beneficiaries.

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“Daedone and Cherwitz also instructed the OneTaste members to engage in sexual acts they found uncomfortable or repulsive as a requirement to obtain ‘freedom’ and ‘enlightenment’ and demonstrate their commitment to OneTaste and Daedone,” the indictment said.

OneTaste, founded in 2004 by Daedone, also hosted coaching and events in New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, London, and other cities. The organization received celebrity endorsements from Khloe Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow.