Summary
Something that could have been a sex-positive institute turned into a weird, controlling sex cult, and this documentary made me feel really uneasy.
Here is our official review of the Netflix documentary film Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste.
Who doesn’t love sex? Talking about it, watching it, doing it, generations can be sex mad, and there’s so much around female sexuality and pleasure that it’s no wonder this company took off, but was it all for the wellness of people?
Controversial sexual health and wellness brand OneTaste gained fame and followers for its practice of “orgasmic meditation” — until members come forward with disturbing allegations. Sarah Gibson and Sloane Kelvin, the directors who previously brought us the Netflix original documentary Britney vs Spears, examine the controversial story of the rise of OneTaste and their fall from grace. In this hour-and-twenty-nine-minute long documentary, we delve into this company, its huge highs and then dramatic lows, and how and why it was eventually shut down.
Originally covered in a 10-part BBC Radio 4 podcast series, The Orgasm Cult, the documentary follows the disturbing story of Nicole Daedone, the founder and conceptual leader of sexual wellness company OneTaste and her drive and desire to help people, which then turned into a manipulative sex cult.
OneTaste, with the use of Orgasmic Meditation, promised 15-minute orgasms and built a community that celebrated physical, mental and spiritual liberation. This documentary casts doubt over the validity of Daedone’s claims as former members allege far more sinister goings-on behind the scenes.
This documentary uses original footage from their live shows, interviews, parties, and counseling sessions, and some have explicit sexual content, so be warned.
As a strong woman, Nicole was inspiring and compelling to people and set a vision and lifestyle that people wanted and needed. You can see in the videos of her classes she was bringing people together and giving people a chance to explore their sexuality. Then it goes too far, she breaks down boundaries when trying to blend sexuality and spirituality, which leads people’s feelings and emotions to be manipulated and ignored.
We’re given interviews with previous clients, reporters, OneTaste instructors, and others who worked for the company. Hearing these first-class accounts, it seems that Nicole was putting her desires and reflections onto people; psychologically manipulating them into wanting what she wanted.
For example, someone says that they wanted to have a baby, and she manipulated this into this woman having a one-hour orgasm in front of everyone, live. Some of the footage we see of Nicole performing what looks like Reiki but with extreme touching is a bit disturbing. There’s one demo where Nicole is being masturbated in front of people, with snakes around her, and people are invited to come touch her thigh whilst this is happening. It’s very intense and almost insane. I felt uneasy watching this.
Something Nicole said which is disturbing is “to deflect rape is to be turned on 100%,” and “protecting women” makes her a victim, and being “protected” doesn’t make her take responsibility for herself and her sexuality. Openly admitting her dad was a child molester and that he would use her as bait is eye-opening into her desperate need for freedom, but can you actually believe what she is saying?
As Daedone grew her cult, she would charge men to have sex and perform sex acts on women with very blurred consent, and she would shame the women who didn’t want to take part. This is hard to watch. There’s a clip of someone clearly being sexually harassed, and this was acceptable as Nicole didn’t believe in victims or rape.
Daedone and her business partner Robert Kandell were besieged by claims of prostitution, fraud, cult-like behavior, and trafficking, with the company closing its doors in 2018.
What I get from this documentary is that Nicole was a skilled seller, and really got a thrill from controlling people, sexually. This company took money and messed with people’s emotions, blurred lines that keep people safe, made sex compulsory and unsafe, and whilst they may have helped and liberated some clients, they also used and abused many, and I am glad this institute is closed.
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