A tumultuous legal battle has erupted between self-help influencers Nicole LePera and Lauren Galvin, creators of the widely followed "Holistic Psychologist" brand, and their former lover, Jenna Weakland. Weakland has filed a lawsuit alleging abuse and financial impropriety, claiming she was instrumental in building the brand and was subsequently denied a $3.5 million payout.
Weakland, who began working for LePera and Galvin in 2019, alleges that she became a central figure in the "Holistic Psychologist" empire, which includes a massive Instagram following and an online community called "The Circle." According to the suit, LePera, a clinical psychologist, and Galvin, her spouse, publicly announced their committed three-person relationship with Weakland in 2021, describing it as a spiritually expanding experience.
As the relationship progressed, Weakland's role within the brand expanded. She appeared in podcasts and videos, and her social media became an extension of the self-help brand. Weakland claims she was promised a one-third share in the business. However, as she raised the issue of her stake, the lawsuit alleges that Galvin engaged in psychological warfare, using derogatory nicknames and making disparaging remarks about Weakland's background. When mediation failed, Weakland sought to end the romantic relationship, at which point LePera allegedly offered a $3.5 million payout.
Instead of payment, Weakland's suit claims, LePera and Galvin manipulated internal finances to suggest she was not owed anything, using their professional authority to dismiss her concerns as mere projections of personal trauma. The lawsuit also details allegations of escalating harassment and violence, including claims that LePera shoved Weakland down a flight of stairs, causing injuries to her ankle and hand. Weakland also alleges that Galvin trespassed on her property and threatened to distribute intimate videos.
LePera and Galvin have filed a countersuit denying Weakland's allegations. They portray Weakland not as a co-founder but as a disgruntled employee who caused chaos. Their lawsuit claims Weakland used deception and coercion to integrate into their lives and business, and that she made threats, including of a tell-all memoir, to force LePera to cede business shares. LePera and Galvin also accuse Weakland of assault, including a claim that she sexually assaulted Galvin and ripped LePera's glasses off. Furthermore, they allege that Weakland engaged in excessive spending of company funds, purportedly amounting to over $1 million in "revenge spending," including a lavish vacation and unauthorized wire transfers, and demanded a $500,000 settlement.