The married couple behind controversial Twin Flames dating empire at centre of latest Netflix documentary

One of Netflix's latest offerings explores an online dating empire which is accused of using coercive practices to manipulate its clients.

New docuseries Escaping Twin Flames pulls back the curtain on Twin Flames Universe and its founders, married couple Jeff and Shaleia Ayan. The series features former members of TFU who claim that Jeff and Shaleia preyed on people looking for love, employing tactics of social isolation and manipulation, separating individuals from their offline communities, and convincing them that their soul person was within the group.

TFU is an online community that promises members unique soul connections, claim they have the ability to find it for you in the form of your “twin flame” — an unequivocal soul connection that’s perfect for you in every way. Jeff and Shaleia told their followers that they were the only people who had the spiritual power to confirm others’ twin flames because they’d reached “harmonious union,” they said.

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Jeff even told members that he had the power to channel a person’s true twin flame. But TFU followers were encouraged to pursue their twin flames “at all costs.” From a young age, Jeff has had various business ideas and wanted to be a millionaire, investigative journalist Sarah Berman says in the series.

In 2011, Jeff moved to Hawaii after graduating from business school and changed his name to Ender Ayanethos, attempting to market himself as a lifestyle guru. Within a few years, Jeff and Shaleia met online, got married, and moved