ROME, GEORGIA — Greg Baer, founder of the Real Love Company, faces allegations of exercising authoritarian control over followers, including directing marriages, encouraging religious conversions, and promoting isolation from families. Ten former members and their relatives described the organization as having controlling characteristics.

Baer directs his followers to address him as Daddy and holds adult followers on his lap during sessions. A specific group of female followers reportedly spent extended private time with him at his residence. According to two lawsuits and four interviews, Baer instructed female followers to undress before holding them during private sessions.

Baer also made decisions regarding when followers could date and whom they should marry. Multiple followers were encouraged to convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and some were instructed to terminate contact with their family members.

During the 1990s, Baer stated he experienced drug addiction and suicidal ideation. He later authored more than 12 books, hosted hundreds of seminars, and published thousands of online videos. The Real Love Company states its mission on its website is to teach love while replacing anger and confusion with peace and confidence, and the organization claims to have positively impacted over 450,000 individuals.

Veena Dinavahi, who experienced depression and made multiple suicide attempts by the time she attended the College of William & Mary, first traveled to meet Greg Baer when she was 19. "I was incredibly high-achieving," Veena Dinavahi said. Her mother, Ramani Dinavahi, discovered information about Real Love through a blog post after traditional therapy proved ineffective for her daughter. Ramani said the blog author advised her to contact Baer. "She told me to call Greg immediately," Ramani said. "I found the solution."

Baer, who previously practiced as an ophthalmologist, teaches that most personal problems originate from being raised by parents who could not or would not provide unconditional love. Baer told individuals, "I know how to be happy. If you want, and only if you really want, I can teach you how." "But that was the first time I felt like maybe there is hope. Maybe there is actually a way out," Veena said. She later withdrew from higher education and ended relationships with nearly all of her previous friends after joining the group.

Baer resided in a house in Rome, Georgia, on a 3-acre property with a pool and lake access. He officiated a wedding ceremony for Veena Dinavahi in his living room and also performed a Mormon baptism ceremony for her.