Stefan Wilhelmy and "Pearadise" v. Haueter, et. al

Stefan Wilhelmy runs an online community called “Pearadise.”  It is a community for “plus sized women.”  He advertises it as “a body positive, all inclusive and supportive group located in Las Vegas.”  He says that he “host[s] body positive events in a safe, welcoming and non-judgmental environment where everyone is welcome.”

Sounds nice, doesn’t it?  

But some women who have gotten wrapped up in it have another story to tell.  

Our clients described a scene of manipulation, victimization, coercion, and sexual assault.  

Our clients went to an event at the Pearadise house, and experienced varying degrees of abuse.  Two women said they were sexually assaulted and referred to Wilhelmy as a “predator.”  Other women in the community showed support for them.  Wilhelmy sued four of them for defamation and related claims.  (Complaint)  We defended by filing an Anti-SLAPP motion. 

One of the key arguments that Stefan Wilhelmy raised was that it was defamatory to accuse him of “sexual assault,” because the crime of sexual assault requires penetration.  Since there was no penetration, just grabbing and fondling, there was no “sexual assault” in his view.  (Wilhelmy’s Anti-SLAPP opposition at P. 16 and Complaint at ¶ 47.) 

We argued that Wilhelmy’s breathtakingly shocking legal theory boils down to “I can do whatever I want to these women, and it doesn’t become sexual assault until unless I penetrate them. Since I didn’t, their statements are false statements of fact, so they should pay me $1,000,000 and not tell anyone else about what I did to them.”  (Anti-Slapp Motion at p.2)

While it is true that the crime of sexual assault requires penetration for a criminal conviction, a woman who is “assaulted in a sexual manner” is free to describe that experience as a “sexual assault.”  

We replied to Wilhelmy and Pearadise’s opposition with a discussion on what “consent” means (it is shocking that we had to do that) and with testimony describing even worse conduct.  (Reply brief and declaration).  A witness swore under penalty of perjury “I was in the middle of having an emotional breakdown. I was crying, with tears streaming down my face. Then Wilhelmy approached me and said “You know what would make you feel better, Porky? If we fucked in the hot tub.”  I explained to him that I was having an emotional breakdown, but Wilhelmy continued to pressure me into having sex with him. In my emotionally vulnerable state, I eventually acquiesced to this pressure. However, I would not call the encounter to be consensual, but rather predatory.” (Reply brief and declaration).

The court sided with us, dismissed all of Wilhelmy and Pearadise’s claims and awarded costs attorney’s fees. 

It is a good thing that Nevada has a strong Anti-SLAPP law.  In the absence of this law, these women may have never been able to afford a defense, and would have suffered years of punitive litigation.  

Press Coverage:

Business Insider: A ‘body positive’ TikToker who runs a group for ‘big beautiful women’ sued 5 of them after they spoke out (link) 

Dexerto: ‘Pearadise’ content house founder Stefan Wilhelmy suing former members after “uncomfortable” allegations  (link)

Daily Mail:  ‘Body positive’ man who runs an online community for plus-size women SUES five members after they accused him of ‘toxic’ behavior, claiming he ‘abuses bigger women for his fetishes’ and making allegations of sexual assault (link)