The ex-girlfriend of Sydney entrepreneur Ben Pasternak, who was arrested on charges of strangulation and assault, has spoken publicly for the first time since the incident. Pasternak, 26, was taken into custody in New York City on Tuesday following allegations that he strangled and assaulted an individual on March 31, the same day the couple ended their relationship.
According to New York Criminal Court records obtained by the Daily Mail, Pasternak faces one count of second-degree strangulation and one count of assault with intent to cause physical injury. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges and is scheduled to appear in court on June 11.
Evelyn Ha's Emotional Response
Evelyn Ha, a Korean-American social media influencer, addressed her followers in an emotional video one day after news of Pasternak's arrest broke. She acknowledged the online speculation and confirmed the end of their relationship.
"I'm no longer in a relationship," Ha said. "It's still really raw for me to be completely honest. Right now I'm just spending time with friends and family and trying to take everything day by day, hour by hour."
Ha described herself as "a mess right now" and asked for time before she could fully open up about the situation, emphasising that it was "still really fresh and raw."
Pasternak's Denial
Pasternak responded with a YouTube video of his own, firmly denying the allegations. "I have never strangled anyone in my entire life. That's not what I do. I'm not physically aggressive in any way at all," he stated in the 6-minute-41-second clip.
He vowed to fight the charges, adding, "I trust the court system to reveal the truth."
Concerns Raised by Fans
Ha's followers had previously expressed concerns about the couple's dynamic. Pasternak frequently appeared in Ha's videos under the pseudonym "Mystery Man." In a video posted eight months ago titled "What It's Like Dating a Tech Founder," Ha complained that Pasternak neglected her due to his constant work schedule.
During a segment filmed by the pool, Ha asked Pasternak a hypothetical question: "Would you rather me cheat on you with an ugly unsuccessful guy, or a really handsome successful guy?" Pasternak retorted, "Would you rather we go swimming in the pool over there, and I hold your head under water and you die?" He then added, "Or, we have a romantic boat trip at night and I push you off the boat and leave you?"
Ha appeared to laugh off the comments, explaining that "Australians are more sarcastic." However, viewers voiced alarm in the comments section.
Defence from Pasternak's Camp
Pasternak's lawyer, Joshua Kirshner, told the Daily Mail that the charges "mischaracterise" what occurred. "The evidence indicates the complaining witness was the initial aggressor, and Ben Pasternak's conduct was limited to lawful self-defense and efforts to disengage," Kirshner said. "The complainant's account is inconsistent and unsupported by reliable corroboration."
American publicist Dini von Mueffling, who previously represented Virginia Roberts Giuffre, also spoke in support of Pasternak. "Ben unilaterally denies the accusation Evelyn Ha has made against him," she said. "We ask people not to jump to conclusions and for their patience and understanding as he works through the devastating claims against him."
Additional Legal Woes
Pasternak's arrest comes shortly after a civil lawsuit was filed against him, alleging he orchestrated a cryptocurrency scheme that caused millions of dollars in losses for investors. The lawsuit claims Pasternak used deceptive tokens to lure funds from unsuspecting victims.
Background
Pasternak, the grandson of Sydney property magnate Robert Magid, first gained fame at age 15 when an iPhone game he created in class topped the Apple App Store charts. He later secured over $91 million in investment for a social media app and a plant-based chicken nugget company, both of which he eventually sold. He dropped out of school in Year 10 to pursue opportunities with Silicon Valley investors.
Ha has not responded to requests for further comment.
