Former Employee at Accused Sex Cult OneTaste Says She Was Pressured to Orgasm ‘With Anyone, Even Strangers’

A former employee of the controversial wellness organization OneTaste took the stand in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, revealing shocking details about the “hands-on” courses offered by the alleged sex cult. The witness, known as Becky, described how she was expected to orgasm “with anybody off the street,” shedding light on the disturbing practices within the organization.

Becky, who is now pregnant and in her late 30s, testified as the first prosecution witness in the trial against OneTaste founder Nicole Daedone, 58, and former head of sales Rachel Cherwitz. As a young employee earning a mere $2,000 a month, Becky recounted her experiences with orgasmic meditation (OM), a practice central to OneTaste's philosophy, which she was expected to engage in with both fellow members and potential clients.

“The expectation was I would be open to OMing with anybody off the street,” Becky stated in court. She further explained the pressure she felt to maintain a constant state of arousal, saying, “I had to be turned on at all times. It was really frowned upon to say you weren’t in the mood.”

Founded in 2004 by Daedone in San Francisco, OneTaste initially promoted female empowerment through its controversial approach to wellness, which included the practice of orgasmic meditation. The organization expanded to locations in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Denver, but prosecutors allege that beneath its seemingly positive facade lay a darker reality. They claim that the organization recruited vulnerable individuals, often those with past trauma, and coerced them into sex work and unpaid labor, leading many to accumulate significant debt.

Becky joined OneTaste in 2011 and quickly found herself in a sales position to help cover the costs of the expensive courses she was required to take, which totaled between $15,000 and $20,000. “I was the perfect mark,” she told the jury, explaining that the term “mark” was frequently used to describe individuals who were easy to manipulate. “I was young, idealistic, and open to sexuality being talked about openly. I was really, really lonely and I really wanted community. I was sexually confused enough that this fit all the pieces for me.”

Once she was employed, Becky testified that she was expected to “say yes to everything” and work tirelessly. Victims were promised healing and enlightenment through the program, which often involved performing sexual acts that many found repulsive with other members and potential clients. Becky vividly described the OM sessions, where participants would engage in one-on-one interactions with a “stroker” and a “strokee,” with one person stimulating her genitals for 15 minutes before sharing their feelings about the experience.

In addition to OM, Becky recounted how participants in a “mastery course” were encouraged to explore anal play, S&M, and bondage. “They were hands-on,” she remarked about the classes. On one occasion, Cherwitz allegedly urged her to engage in OM with an “older man, who I definitely wouldn’t ordinarily engage in sexual activity with.” Becky described the experience, stating, “We laid on cushions and a blanket, I undressed from the waist down, legs spread, he’s sitting next to me and he strokes me in a specific way on my clitoris for 15 minutes.”

Becky explained that her decision to work for OneTaste stemmed from the significant debt she incurred while taking coaching classes. She eventually moved into a OneTaste house in Harlem, where she was never alone and had to text for permission even to take a 10-minute break. Living conditions were strict; members were required to sleep in close quarters with others and wake up at 7 a.m. for their first OM session of the day. Following this, they would participate in Bikram yoga and have breakfast before spending the rest of the day, often until midnight or 1 a.m., working to attract new clients.

During her time with OneTaste, Becky described how she became increasingly isolated from her friends and family due to the organization's controlling nature, which contributed to her prolonged involvement with the group. She ultimately left OneTaste in 2014 at the age of 27, feeling financially and emotionally drained. “I came in with very little in savings and I left with absolutely nothing,” she testified, adding, “It’s really hard to be in this room right now.”

During the opening statements of the trial, Brooklyn federal prosecutor Sean Fern emphasized that victims were manipulated into believing that engaging in acts they found sexually repulsive was the key to their liberation. In reality, he argued, the company thrived “on the backs of unpaid or underpaid labor, much of that labor included serving OneTaste investors.”

Both Daedone and Cherwitz face serious charges, including conspiracy to commit forced labor, and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. In her opening statement, Daedone’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, portrayed OneTaste as a typical health and wellness company, likening it to “yoga with a twist.” She insisted that all members engaged in consensual acts and that many now feel embarrassed about their past decisions. “At the time, they were having a blast,” Bonjean stated. “Grown people made grown decisions they don’t want to stand by.”

OneTaste gained notoriety after being featured in a 2022 Netflix documentary titled “Orgasm Inc,” which explored some of the alleged criminal activities associated with the organization. Prior to its decline in 2018, OneTaste was also highlighted on Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop website. Media investigations into the company’s alleged misconduct ultimately contributed to its downfall.