Australian entrepreneur Ben Pasternak, known for launching a prominent vegan chicken nugget startup, has been accused of strangling his ex, Evelyn Ha, inside a Manhattan hotel where he was allegedly hiding from claims of fraud within his crypto company. The incident allegedly occurred on March 31 at the ritzy Baccarat Hotel on West 53rd Street and caused Ha to seek medical attention. Despite the allegations, Ha claims she left the relationship out of fear for her own safety. Pasternaks, who denies the charges, claims that Ha was the aggressor and that his actions were in self-defense. He is also facing allegations from investors that he illegally diluted the value of the crypto coins they bought on his platform, Believe.