OneTaste Founder Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Court
Nicole Daedone, the founder and former CEO of OneTaste, was sentenced to nine years in prison by a Brooklyn federal court last week after being convicted on forced labor conspiracy charges. The case has ignited a fierce debate over whether freedom of thought is being criminalized within alternative wellness practices.
The Rise and Fall of an Orgasmic Enterprise
Daedone, 57, known as "The Oracle," co-founded OneTaste in 2005, promoting orgasmic meditation (OM) as a path to spiritual connection and emotional wellbeing. The practice, rooted in Buddhist Tantric sex, gained mainstream traction, attracting up to 300,000 members with outposts in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Austin, and London. At its peak, OneTaste was featured in media, including a skeptical 2009 New York Times article, and later in a 2022 Netflix documentary and a 2025 book by Bloomberg reporter Ellen Huet.
Prosecutors argued that Daedone and former head of sales Rachel Cherwitz used psychological, emotional, and financial coercion to control victims, extracting labor and services for personal benefit. US attorney Joseph Nocella stated, "Coercion disguised as wellness or empowerment is still exploitation and it is a crime that causes harm to vulnerable victims." Witnesses testified about being lured into the community, isolated, and assigned duties like cooking, cleaning, or providing sexual favors, leaving them traumatized and in debt.
Defense and Supporters Challenge the Conviction
Outside the court, supporters, including current CEO Anjuli Ayer, called the conviction "a terrifying day for freedom," arguing it criminalizes persuasion and disregards consent. Defense attorney Jennifer Bonjean described Daedone as a "ceiling-shattering feminist entrepreneur" and warned that the case misuses forced labor statutes, coming "painfully close to criminalizing thoughts and beliefs." Some former adherents, like wellness practitioner Rori Montali, defended OM as a tool for trauma recovery, emphasizing its positive impact on hundreds of satisfied participants.
Cult Allegations and Broader Implications
The case raises questions about whether OneTaste qualifies as a cult. Ex-Moonie Steven Hassan labeled it as such, citing authoritarian control and narcissistic leadership. He noted that modern cults in the wellness movement often use online indoctrination instead of physical isolation. However, OneTaste supporters counter that the FBI has adopted Hassan's "dangerous theories," which are rejected by organizations like the American Psychological Association. Ayer asserted the case is about targeting "ideas about women's power and volition" rather than labor crimes.
With an appeal pending, the outcome may set precedents for how alternative therapies and personal beliefs are regulated in the legal system, highlighting tensions between exploitation and empowerment in the growing wellness industry.
