Big Sur’s alternative wellness resort is hit by more allegations of racism after an anonymous employee claimed the facility exploited her labor.
A West Coast retreat that sells itself as a “holistic retreat and educational facility” came under fire in May after a Black female guest accused the chic retreat of racism.
Now an employee of the company has spoken out anonymously, claiming that his labor is being exploited and that “white people with less time and less experience are being promoted over me.”
The Esalen Institute – a retreat in Big Sur, California – is a popular retreat for the rich and famous. Accommodation ranges from a “sleeping bag spot” that costs $900 for four nights to private suites that cost $8,000.
The employee said, “At one point I asked myself, ‘What’s going on here?'” “It was disturbing that I wasn’t offered a promotion, disturbing white people were being promoted before me.”
An Esalen Institute employee has spoken out anonymously, claiming his workforce is being exploited and claiming that “white people with less time and less experience are being promoted over me.”
The retreat inspired the final scenes of the hit series “Mad Men,” in which troubled antihero Don Draper joined a hippie commune overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
According to SFGATE, which spoke to the employee who made the allegations, they worked for the Esalen Institute on and off for 10 years, receiving a salary as well as room and board at the luxury retreat.
The Esalen Institute’s director of operations told SFGATE reporters that Esalen “goes above and beyond any organization” in complying with state and federal civil rights and discrimination laws.
The employee feared retaliation for speaking out publicly. They said in an email that it was “upsetting, to say the least, to read that she was quoted as saying that the Esalen Institute goes “far and above any organization” in its compliance with state and federal civil rights laws and discrimination.
They said: “I had brought these issues to their attention several times and was gaslighted the entire time.”
The reached out to the Esalen Institute by phone and email for comment on the allegations they are facing, but the company has not yet responded.
According to the employee, the lawsuit filed by Nicole Evans has caused the institute to take her claims more seriously.
Nicole Evans from Los Angeles showed claims instructor Lorin Roche a video of a black comedian joking that “the Irish are the n*****s of Europe.”
Evans is seeking at least $1 million in damages for the alleged incident, described in the lawsuit as “one of the most humiliating and traumatic experiences of her life.” She claims the California retreat and its employees violated her civil rights.
Evans attended a Roche-led medication course on September 7, 2022, midway through her four-day stay. He reportedly played a YouTube video of the comedy routine, which participants initially found funny, but “the room became deafeningly silent” when the N-word was used in a joke about the Irish.
Roche, described in the lawsuit as “a faculty member with decades of tenure at the institute,” and several other attendees looked directly at Evans, the only Black person in attendance, when the clip was shown.
The employee worked for the Esalen Institute on and off for 10 years, receiving, in addition to his salary, room and board at the high-end retreat
Evans’ lawsuit alleges that Lorin Roche (pictured) played the offensive clip during a meditation class, which Evans described as “one of the most humiliating and traumatic experiences of her life.”
The teacher then rewound the clip and played the joke again, causing some people to walk out of class and leaving Evans “completely confused, shocked and overwhelmed with emotion,” it says.
The clip was believed to be from Reginald D. Hunter, an American stand-up comedian from Georgia living in the UK. A video from one of Hunter’s stand-up shows, uploaded to YouTube in 2011, shows him making the same joke during a routine event about the time he spent in Ireland.
Evan’s lawsuit, reported by the LA Times, states that after the incident she “felt paralyzed and didn’t know what to do.” She felt like a fish in a fishbowl as everyone glared at her, which in turn led to this ‘that she felt unsafe.’
She decided to stay at the retreat, but word of the incident spread and was brought up by other participants, making her uncomfortable.
Evans was supposed to take another course at Roche the next day, but decided against it. Roche’s wife, Camille Maurine, who also works at the Esalen Institute, then urged Evans to attend the course to discuss the topic with him.
Roche acted as if “nothing had happened” and did not apologize, the lawsuit says.
He also said to another person at the retreat who asked him about it, “I’m sorry you normal people don’t understand the brilliance of the video.”
Evans left the class “humiliated and angry.”
Roche only issued a “forced” apology later in the day after his wife invited Evans to a meeting with a director of the institute. Evans claims the director said, “He’s sorry this happened to her.”
A popular retreat for the rich and famous, the Esalen Institute describes itself as a “holistic retreat and educational institute.” Accommodation ranges from a “sleeping bag spot” that costs $900 for four nights to private suites that cost $8,000
Roche and his wife, Camille Maurine, who is also a faculty member at the Esalen Institute
The lawsuit states: “As a result of Defendants’ actions, Plaintiff has suffered and will continue to suffer general and special damages, including severe and profound pain and emotional distress, anxiety, depression, headaches, tension and other physical ailments,” medical expenses as well Costs for psychological counseling and treatment.”
The lawsuit was filed in December and the trial was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. The Esalen Institute has been contacted for comment.
It alleges the institute failed to take appropriate disciplinary action against Roche and accuses him of “discriminatory and bigoted behavior” in the past.
The Esalen Institute was founded in 1962 and established itself as a leader in the New Age movement. The institute offers a range of courses and workshops, covering activities from mindfulness and yoga to writing and dance.
The retreat’s website encourages guests to “explore their potential,” saying, “Esalen is a holistic retreat and educational institute.”
“We were founded in 1962 and are considered the epicenter of the Human Potential Movement. We are a nonprofit organization that provides comfort and space for exploration, transformation and healing in the wilds of Big Sur’s majestic mountain landscape and sparkling coastline.”
“Our curiosity and research explores new ideas around creativity and the brain, bodywork, spirituality, leadership, Gestalt, plant medicine, citizen diplomacy, superhumanism, surviving physical death, extraterrestrial intelligence and more.”