A body-positivity community that drew hundreds of thousands of followers is facing allegations of manipulation and predatory behavior by its founder, Stefan Wilhelmy. The community, called Pearadise, was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic and quickly grew into a social media phenomenon, attracting nearly 250,000 TikTok followers.

Allegations of Unwanted Sexual Conduct

According to court records, several former members alleged that Wilhelmy touched them without consent during visits to his Las Vegas home. The allegations include claims of sexual assault, with one former member, Savannah Brown, alleging that Wilhelmy rubbed her stomach, touched her shoulders, and spanked her despite her objections.

Alejandra Javier, another former member, alleged that Wilhelmy rubbed her stomach without consent and took photographs of women in a pool without permission. Wilhelmy has denied the allegations and sued several women for defamation after they publicly described him as a predator and accused him of sexual assault.

Legal Battle and Documentary

The allegations against Wilhelmy sparked a years-long legal battle that generated hundreds of pages of court filings and sworn declarations. The case was eventually dismissed under Nevada’s Anti-SLAPP law, with the court finding that the women had established their statements involved a matter of public concern and that there was no evidence they knowingly made false statements.

The allegations against Wilhelmy are also the subject of a new documentary, ‘Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise,’ which explores body image, online communities, power dynamics, and the subculture known as feederism. The documentary’s director, Tara Malone, said the project became about something much larger than one man, focusing on the stories of the women who were part of the community and their experiences.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.