Latest news with #OneTasteInc.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
US: Leaders of women's sexual wellness firm, OneTaste, convicted in forced labour trial
The leaders of a sex-focused women's wellness company, OneTaste Inc., have been convicted of federal forced labour charges. The California-based company promoted 'orgasmic meditation'. Following a five-week trial, Nicole Daedone, founder of OneTaste Inc., and Rachel Cherwitz, the company's former sales director, were found by the Brooklyn jury guilty after deliberating for less than two days. Each faced 20 years in prison as per the sentence. The prosecutors argued that the two women ran a scheme for years that groomed individuals, many of them victims of sexual trauma, to do their bidding. They further claimed that Daedone 57 and Cherwitz, 44, used economic, sexual and psychological abuse, intimidation and indoctrination to force OneTaste members into sexual acts that they found uncomfortable or repulsive, such as having sex with prospective investors or clients. Followers were told to perform questionable acts as a way to obtain 'freedom' and 'enlightenment' and to demonstrate their commitment to OneTaste's principles. Also, they did not pay promised earnings to the members-turned-workers and even forced some of them to take out new credit cards to continue taking the company's courses. In her closing statement, Assistant US Attorney Nina Gupta said that the defendants "built a business on the backs" of victims who "gave everything" to them, including "their money, their time, their bodies, their dignity, and ultimately their sanity." Meanwhile, Daedone's defence team cast her as a "ceiling-shattering feminist entrepreneur" who created a unique business around women's sexuality and empowerment. Cherwitz's lawyer argued that the witnesses who testified were not forced to do anything. When they did not like the organisation anymore or wanted to try other things, she said, they simply left. "The fact that they are regretting the actions that they took when they were younger is not evidence of a crime," she said. OneTaste began in San Francisco in 2004 as a self-help commune that viewed female orgasms as key to sexual and psychological wellness and interpersonal connection.
San Francisco Chronicle
7 hours ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Leaders of ‘orgasmic meditation' women's wellness company OneTaste convicted in forced labor trial
NEW YORK (AP) — The leaders of a sex-focused women's wellness company that promoted 'orgasmic meditation' have been convicted of federal forced labor charges. A Brooklyn jury on Monday found Nicole Daedone, founder of OneTaste Inc., and Rachel Cherwitz, the California-based company's former sales director, guilty of forced labor conspiracy after deliberating for less than two days following a roughly monthlong trial. Daedone's defense team had cast her as a 'ceiling-shattering feminist entrepreneur' who created a unique business around women's sexuality and empowerment. But prosecutors argued the two women ran a yearslong scheme that groomed adherents — many of them victims of sexual trauma — to do their bidding. They said Daedone and Cherwitz used economic, sexual and psychological abuse, intimidation and indoctrination to force OneTaste members into sexual acts they found uncomfortable or repulsive, such as having sex with prospective investors or clients. The two told followers the questionable acts were necessary in order to obtain 'freedom' and 'enlightenment' and demonstrate their commitment to the organization's principles. Prosecutors said OneTaste leaders also didn't pay promised earnings to the members-turned-workers and even forced some of them to take out new credit cards to continue taking the company's courses. OneTaste started in San Francisco around 2005 as a sort of self-help commune that viewed female orgasms as key to sexual and psychological wellness and interpersonal connection. A centerpiece was 'orgasmic meditation,' carried out by men manually stimulating women in a group setting. The company quickly opened outposts from Los Angeles to London following glowing media coverage in the 2010s. At the time, OneTaste was portrayed as a cutting-edge enterprise that prioritized women's sexual pleasure. But Daedone sold her stake in 2017 — a year before OneTaste's marketing and labor practices came under scrutiny. The company's current owners, who have rebranded it the Institute of OM Foundation, have said its work has been misconstrued and the charges against its former executives were unjustified.
Toronto Star
7 hours ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
Leaders of ‘orgasmic meditation' women's wellness company OneTaste convicted in forced labor trial
NEW YORK (AP) — The leaders of a sex-focused women's wellness company that promoted 'orgasmic meditation' have been convicted of federal forced labor charges. A Brooklyn jury on Monday found Nicole Daedone, founder of OneTaste Inc., and Rachel Cherwitz, the California-based company's former sales director, guilty of forced labor conspiracy after deliberating for less than two days following a roughly monthlong trial.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Leaders of ‘orgasmic meditation' women's wellness company OneTaste convicted in forced labor trial
NEW YORK (AP) — The leaders of a sex-focused women's wellness company that promoted 'orgasmic meditation' have been convicted of federal forced labor charges. A Brooklyn jury on Monday found Nicole Daedone, founder of OneTaste Inc., and Rachel Cherwitz, the California-based company's former sales director, guilty of forced labor conspiracy after deliberating for less than two days following a roughly monthlong trial. Daedone's defense team had cast her as a 'ceiling-shattering feminist entrepreneur' who created a unique business around women's sexuality and empowerment. But prosecutors argued the two women ran a yearslong scheme that groomed adherents — many of them victims of sexual trauma — to do their bidding. They said Daedone and Cherwitz used economic, sexual and psychological abuse, intimidation and indoctrination to force OneTaste members into sexual acts they found uncomfortable or repulsive, such as having sex with prospective investors or clients. The two told followers the questionable acts were necessary in order to obtain 'freedom' and 'enlightenment' and demonstrate their commitment to the organization's principles. Prosecutors said OneTaste leaders also didn't pay promised earnings to the members-turned-workers and even forced some of them to take out new credit cards to continue taking the company's courses. Lawyers for Cherwitz said in an email later that they would appeal; Daedone's lawyers didn't immediately respond. OneTaste started in San Francisco around 2005 as a sort of self-help commune that viewed female orgasms as key to sexual and psychological wellness and interpersonal connection. A centerpiece was 'orgasmic meditation,' carried out by men manually stimulating women in a group setting. The company quickly opened outposts from Los Angeles to London following glowing media coverage in the 2010s. At the time, OneTaste was portrayed as a cutting-edge enterprise that prioritized women's sexual pleasure. But Daedone sold her stake in 2017 — a year before OneTaste's marketing and labor practices came under scrutiny. The company's current owners, who have rebranded it the Institute of OM Foundation, have said its work has been misconstrued and the charges against its former executives were unjustified. They maintain sexual consent has always been a cornerstone of the organization. The company didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Toronto Star
7 hours ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
Leaders of ‘orgasmic meditation' wellness company convicted in forced labor trial
NEW YORK (AP) — The leaders of a sex-focused women's wellness company that promoted 'orgasmic meditation' have been convicted of federal forced labor charges. A Brooklyn jury on Monday found Nicole Daedone, founder of OneTaste Inc., and Rachel Cherwitz, the California-based company's former sales director, guilty of forced labor conspiracy after deliberating for less than two days following a roughly monthlong trial. Daedone's defense team had cast her as a 'ceiling-shattering feminist entrepreneur' who created a unique business around women's sexuality and empowerment. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW But prosecutors argued the two women ran a yearslong scheme that groomed adherents — many of them victims of sexual trauma — to do their bidding. They said Daedone and Cherwitz used economic, sexual and psychological abuse, intimidation and indoctrination to force OneTaste members into sexual acts they found uncomfortable or repulsive, such as having sex with prospective investors or clients. The two told followers the questionable acts were necessary in order to obtain 'freedom' and 'enlightenment' and demonstrate their commitment to the organization's principles. Prosecutors said OneTaste leaders also didn't pay promised earnings to the members-turned-workers and even forced some of them to take out new credit cards to continue taking the company's courses. Lawyers for the two women didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment Monday. OneTaste started in San Francisco around 2005 as a sort of self-help commune that viewed female orgasms as key to sexual and psychological wellness and interpersonal connection. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW A centerpiece was 'orgasmic meditation,' carried out by men manually stimulating women in a group setting. The company quickly opened outposts from Los Angeles to London following glowing media coverage in the 2010s. At the time, OneTaste was portrayed as a cutting-edge enterprise that prioritized women's sexual pleasure. But Daedone sold her stake in 2017 — a year before OneTaste's marketing and labor practices came under scrutiny. The company's current owners, who have rebranded it the Institute of OM Foundation, have said its work has been misconstrued and the charges against its former executives were unjustified. They maintain sexual consent has always been a cornerstone of the organization. The company didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
