Gave his number: Artist recalls Deepak Chopra's late-night invite when she was 16

A storm is gathering around wellness icon Deepak Chopra after a viral post on X, viewed more than 1.9 million times, brought forward an allegation by artist and entrepreneur Sevda Rubens, who says she was 16 when Chopra allegedly behaved inappropriately at a meditation event in Europe.

The post surfaced just as emails linking Chopra to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein returned to public focus following a fresh document release. The overlap has fuelled intense online scrutiny, turning Rubens’ account into a flashpoint for wider debates on power, celebrity, and accountability in spiritual spaces.

Across X, Instagram, and global wellness forums, reactions have been swift and emotional, with critics questioning the culture surrounding influential male gurus and their young followers.

‘I LEFT FEELING UNSETTLED’

Rubens shared her allegation while quoting Chopra’s public response to the Epstein-linked emails.

She wrote that at a meditation gathering, Chopra allegedly gave her his personal number and encouraged her to meet him privately late at night. She said she declined and walked away feeling uncomfortable.

“Male gurus are a construct. Smart girls are real,” she wrote, a line that spread rapidly across social media and drew thousands of likes within hours.

Messages of support followed, with many women saying her account reflected experiences they had faced in similar spaces.

One user wrote, “This is why celebrity gurus are dangerous. Power without accountability.”

‘I WAS LIVING ALONE, WITH NO SAFETY NET’

In a detailed thread accompanying her viral post, Rubens described the circumstances of her life at the time of the alleged encounter.

“At 16 I left my parental home, moved into a small attic and worked several jobs to maintain myself,” she wrote. “I had zero stability, no adult oversight.”

She said she lived in a constant state of alertness, describing herself as “almost masculine in my vigilance”, avoided substances, and learned to identify men she considered unsafe.

“I remember how instinctively I marked certain men as danger,” she added. “Looking back, it’s remarkable I never fell into their hands.”

Supporters say the thread added weight to her claim, portraying a teenager navigating adulthood alone while attending spiritual gatherings that promised guidance and safety.

EPSTEIN EMAILS RESURFACE

The controversy gained momentum after Chopra’s name appeared in recently released emails linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

The messages, dated between 2016 and 2019, showed friendly exchanges, shared articles, and discussions about social plans, years after Epstein’s earlier conviction.

One reply from Chopra reading “Good” in response to news of a dropped lawsuit triggered criticism. Another email contained a casual remark that many said clashed sharply with his public image as a spiritual leader.

No criminal wrongdoing by Chopra is alleged in the documents. However, critics argue that the tone and timing of the messages reflected poor judgement.

CHOPRA’S RESPONSE AND ONLINE BACKLASH

Responding on X, Chopra said he had limited contact with Epstein, condemned abuse, and expressed regret over the tone of some messages.
He also disabled replies on his post, a move that intensified suspicion among critics.

An Instagram user commented, “This feels like a betrayal of the spiritual community.”

Support for Rubens continued to grow, with many thanking her for speaking out. Others used the moment to question practices within yoga retreats, meditation circles, and wellness gatherings that revolve around charismatic leaders.

WHO IS SEVDA RUBENS

Sevda Rubens is an artist and entrepreneur who describes herself as straight edge and focused on health innovation. As per reports, she is currently developing a project called cycles.health and frequently speaks about wellness, intuition, and personal boundaries online.

Before this week, Rubens was largely unknown to mainstream audiences. Her viral post has now placed her at the centre of a global conversation about safety, influence, and accountability in spiritual and wellness communities.

SILENCE ON THE ALLEGATION

Chopra has not directly addressed Rubens’ claim about their alleged interaction when she was a teenager. His public statement focused solely on the Epstein emails.

That silence has become part of the controversy, with many asking whether he will respond to her account or allow the issue to fade amid the fast moving online cycle.

For now, the story continues to circulate through screenshots, reposts, and debate threads, reappearing every few hours and keeping pressure on one of the world’s most recognisable spiritual figures.