OneTaste

OneTaste began in 2004<ref name="PleasurePrinciple" /> and was cofounded in [[San Francisco]] by Robert Kandell and [[Nicole Daedone]]. Daedone stated that a man introduced her to orgasmic meditation before she started OneTaste.<ref name="Weiss 2016">{{cite web|last=Weiss|first=Suzannah|date=2016-08-23|title=Can You Orgasm Your Way to Enlightenment?|url=http://www.complex.com/life/2016/08/orgasmic-meditation-nicole-daedone|access-date=2018-03-08|website=Complex}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' reported that Daedone changed her description of the man upon retelling the origin story, having portrayed him on different occasions as a [[Buddhist]], a [[monk]], and "a cute guy" who said "the best [[pickup line]] I'd ever heard".<ref name="Brown Apr 2021" />

OneTaste began in 2004<ref name="PleasurePrinciple" /> and was cofounded in [[San Francisco]] by Robert Kandell and [[Nicole Daedone]]. Daedone stated that a man introduced her to orgasmic meditation before she started OneTaste.<ref name="Weiss 2016">{{cite web|last=Weiss|first=Suzannah|date=2016-08-23|title=Can You Orgasm Your Way to Enlightenment?|url=http://www.complex.com/life/2016/08/orgasmic-meditation-nicole-daedone|access-date=2018-03-08|website=Complex}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' reported that Daedone changed her description of the man upon retelling the origin story, having portrayed him on different occasions as a [[Buddhist]], a [[monk]], and "a cute guy" who said "the best [[pickup line]] I'd ever heard".<ref name="Brown Apr 2021" />

OneTaste originally operated two [[Communal living|communal]]-style "urban retreat" centers, one in [[South of Market, San Francisco|San Francisco's Soma District]] and another in [[Lower Manhattan]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.onetaste.us|title=OneTaste|publisher=OneTaste Incorporated |access-date=2011-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202182236/http://www.onetaste.us/ |archive-date=2011-02-02 |url-status=dead}}</ref> OneTaste then expanded to Los Angeles and London.<ref name="Huet Oct 2018">{{cite web |last1=Huet |first1=Ellen |author1-link=Ellen Huet |title=OneTaste Stops 'Orgasmic Meditation' Classes, U.S. Locations Set to Close |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-19/onetaste-stops-orgasmic-meditation-classes-all-locations-set-to-close |website=[[Bloomberg News]] |access-date=10 May 2025 |date=19 October 2018}}</ref> The company produced media, workshops, weekend retreats, and a coach training program. In 2014, OneTaste was listed as an [[Inc.com|Inc.]] 5000 fastest growing company.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=OneTaste - San Francisco, CA|url=https://www.inc.com/profile/onetaste|access-date=2021-04-24|website=Inc.com|language=en}}</ref> Daedone sold her ownership of OneTaste to three participants for $12 million in 2017; the company stated that it received $12 million in revenue during the same year.<ref name="Ramey Jan 2025" />

OneTaste originally operated two [[Communal living|communal]]-style "urban retreat" centers, one in [[South of Market, San Francisco|San Francisco's Soma District]] and another in [[Lower Manhattan]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.onetaste.us|title=OneTaste|publisher=OneTaste Incorporated |access-date=2011-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202182236/http://www.onetaste.us/ |archive-date=2011-02-02 |url-status=dead}}</ref> OneTaste then expanded to Los Angeles and London.<ref name="Huet Oct 2018">{{cite web |last1=Huet |first1=Ellen |author1-link=Ellen Huet |title=OneTaste Stops 'Orgasmic Meditation' Classes, U.S. Locations Set to Close |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-19/onetaste-stops-orgasmic-meditation-classes-all-locations-set-to-close |website=[[Bloomberg News]] |access-date=10 May 2025 |date=19 October 2018}}</ref> The company produced media, workshops, weekend retreats, and a coach training program. In 2014, OneTaste was listed as an [[Inc.com|Inc.]] 5000 fastest growing company.<ref>{{Cite web|title=OneTaste - San Francisco, CA|url=https://www.inc.com/profile/onetaste|access-date=2021-04-24|website=Inc.com|language=en}}</ref> Daedone sold her ownership of OneTaste to three participants for $12 million in 2017; the company stated that it received $12 million in revenue during the same year.<ref name="Ramey Jan 2025" />

''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]'' published an exposé of the company in June 2018. According to the report, OneTaste offered orgasmic meditation courses for $499 to $16,000, as well as a $60,000 annual subscription that included access to all courses.<ref name="Huet Jun 2018" /> In October 2018, OneTaste closed all of their U.S. locations and stopped hosting in-person classes.<ref name="Huet Oct 2018"/> By 2022, OneTaste rebranded itself as The Institute of OM.<ref name="Harrison Nov 2022" /><ref name="Hahn Nov 2022">{{cite web |last1=Hahn |first1=Jason |title=Lawsuit Seeks to Block Release of Netflix Doc About 'Orgasmic Meditation' Group OneTaste |url=https://people.com/human-interest/lawsuit-seeks-to-block-release-of-netflix-doc-onetaste/ |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=11 May 2025 |language=en |date=4 November 2022}}</ref>

''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]'' published an exposé of the company in June 2018. According to the report, OneTaste offered orgasmic meditation courses for $499 to $16,000, as well as a $60,000 annual subscription that included access to all courses.<ref name="Huet Jun 2018" /> In October 2018, OneTaste closed all of their U.S. locations and stopped hosting in-person classes.<ref name="Huet Oct 2018"/> By 2022, OneTaste rebranded itself as The Institute of OM.<ref name="Harrison Nov 2022" /><ref name="Hahn Nov 2022">{{cite web |last1=Hahn |first1=Jason |title=Lawsuit Seeks to Block Release of Netflix Doc About 'Orgasmic Meditation' Group OneTaste |url=https://people.com/human-interest/lawsuit-seeks-to-block-release-of-netflix-doc-onetaste/ |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=11 May 2025 |language=en |date=4 November 2022}}</ref>

=== Verdict ===

=== Verdict ===

On June 9, 2025, the jury in the case found Daedone and Cherwitz guilty on federal forced labor charges, and each face up to 20 years in prison.<ref name="Marcelo-2025">{{cite web |last1=Marcelo |first1=Philip |title=Leaders of 'orgasmic meditation' women's wellness company OneTaste convicted in forced labor trial |url=https://apnews.com/article/onetaste-sexual-wellness-executives-charged-forced-labor-711e616bd53d85db2001fea17ec43e17 |website=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=10 June 2025 |language=en |date=9 June 2025}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

On June 9, 2025, the jury in the case found Daedone and Cherwitz guilty on federal forced labor charges, and each face up to 20 years in prison.<ref name="Marcelo-2025">{{cite web |last1=Marcelo |first1=Philip |title=Leaders of 'orgasmic meditation' women's wellness company OneTaste convicted in forced labor trial |url=https://apnews.com/article/onetaste-sexual-wellness-executives-charged-forced-labor-711e616bd53d85db2001fea17ec43e17 |website=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=10 June 2025 |language=en |date=9 June 2025}}</ref>

Announcing the verdict, the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella, Jr. said, "The jury’s verdict has unmasked Daedone and Cherwitz for who they truly are: grifters who preyed on vulnerable victims by making empty promises of sexual empowerment and wellness only to manipulate them into performing labor and services for the defendants’ benefit."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=Founder of Sexual Wellness Company “OneTaste” and Former Head of Sales Convicted of Forced Labor Conspiracy |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/founder-sexual-wellness-company-onetaste-and-former-head-sales-convicted-forced-labor |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.justice.gov |publisher=[[United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Announcing the verdict, the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella, Jr. said, "The jury’s verdict has unmasked Daedone and Cherwitz for who they truly are: grifters who preyed on vulnerable victims by making empty promises of sexual empowerment and wellness only to manipulate them into performing labor and services for the defendants’ benefit."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-09 |title=Founder of Sexual Wellness Company “OneTaste” and Former Head of Sales Convicted of Forced Labor Conspiracy |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/founder-sexual-wellness-company-onetaste-and-former-head-sales-convicted-forced-labor |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.justice.gov |publisher=[[United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York]] |language=en-US}}</ref>