Vegan Meat Entrepreneur Ben Pasternak Charged with Assaulting Influencer Girlfriend; Both Parties Present Conflicting Accounts
Introduction
Ben Pasternak, the 26-year-old co-founder of the plant-based meat company Simulate, has been arrested and charged with second-degree strangulation and assault with intent to cause physical injury following an alleged incident at the Baccarat Hotel in New York City on March 31. The charges stem from accusations by his former girlfriend, influencer Evelyn Ha, 27, who claims Pasternak choked her and repeatedly slammed a door on her, causing bruising and respiratory distress. Pasternak has pleaded not guilty, with his legal team asserting that his actions constituted lawful self-defense and that Ha was the aggressor.
Main Body
According to a criminal complaint obtained by The New York Post, the alleged assault occurred after Ha attempted to film Pasternak inside their hotel room. The complaint states that Pasternak used both hands to squeeze Ha’s neck, resulting in redness, throat pain, and difficulty breathing that required medical attention. It further alleges that he slammed a door on her multiple times, causing substantial bruising to her arms and hips. Pasternak was taken into custody weeks later, on a Tuesday, and released on his own recognizance despite prosecutors requesting $30,000 bail. Pasternak’s defense has been articulated through his spokeswoman, Dini von Mueffling, and his attorney, Josh Kirshner. Von Mueffling, who described herself as a longtime friend of Pasternak and a representative of sexual assault survivors, stated that Ha was the one who initiated physical aggression during the relationship and on the night in question. She claimed Ha was emotionally and physically abusive, jealous, and had threatened Pasternak if he attempted to leave. Kirshner characterized the complainant’s account as inconsistent and lacking reliable corroboration, asserting that Pasternak’s actions were limited to self-defense and efforts to disengage. Pasternak has not spoken publicly about the charges. Ha, who has over six million followers across social media platforms, addressed the incident in a YouTube video posted shortly after Pasternak’s arrest. She stated that serious boundaries were crossed and that she decided to end the relationship for the sake of her safety and well-being. She described the experience as still raw and indicated she was focusing on spending time with friends and family. Additional context from court records and reporting reveals that Pasternak was staying at the Baccarat Hotel at the time of the alleged assault partly to evade service of a separate civil lawsuit. That lawsuit, filed on March 23 in Manhattan federal court by investors Joshua Lee and Pierre Montmeas, accuses Pasternak of illegally diluting the value of crypto coins sold on his platform, Believe. The investors claim that consumers lost nearly everything. Process servers eventually located Pasternak and served him with a summons on April 17; he is due in court in that case on June 11. Pasternak, who dropped out of high school to pursue entrepreneurship, co-founded Simulate, which produced vegan chicken nuggets once dubbed the 'Tesla of Chicken.' The company, previously valued at $250 million, was acquired by Ahimsa Companies after Simulate opted to sell rather than seek additional funding in a challenging plant-based meat market.
Conclusion
The legal proceedings against Ben Pasternak are ongoing, with a criminal case involving assault charges and a separate civil lawsuit concerning alleged cryptocurrency fraud. Both parties maintain starkly opposing narratives regarding the nature of their relationship and the events of March 31. The court will ultimately adjudicate the veracity of the claims and counterclaims presented.