The Passes lawsuit is a federal class action filed in February 2025 by creator Alice Rosenblum against the creator monetization platform Passes, its founder and CEO Lucy Guo, talent manager Alec Celestin, former director of talent Lani Ginoza, and two affiliated companies, accusing them of producing, possessing, and distributing sexually explicit content of Rosenblum that was created while she was seventeen. In February 2026, a federal judge largely denied the defendants’ motions to dismiss, and the case is now moving into discovery. The defendants deny the allegations.
What the Complaint Alleges
Alice Rosenblum v. Passes Inc., et al. (Case No. 1:25-cv-20899) was filed on February 26, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.1PacerMonitor. Rosenblum v. Passes, Inc. et al The complaint is brought by Clark Smith Villazor LLP and Schwartz Breslin PLLC on behalf of Rosenblum and others “similarly situated,” described as individuals recruited as minors to create sexually explicit content that was then sold to paying subscribers on Passes.2Clark Smith Villazor LLP. Clark Smith Villazor LLP Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Passes It alleges violations of federal child pornography statutes, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252 and 2252A, along with Florida criminal statutes.3PR Newswire. Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Passes for Distribution of Child Pornography
Rosenblum alleges that Celestin groomed her and directed her to create sexually explicit photos and videos when she was seventeen years old. According to the complaint, in the days before her eighteenth birthday, Celestin proposed a marketing campaign designed specifically to promote the explicit content that had been produced while she was still a minor.4TechCrunch. Creator Monetization Platform Passes Sued Over Alleged Distribution of CSAM
The complaint alleges all defendants knew Rosenblum was underage and that the company possessed explicit content of her. Among the most serious claims: that Guo personally intervened to override internal safety systems that would have flagged the content as child sexual abuse material.4TechCrunch. Creator Monetization Platform Passes Sued Over Alleged Distribution of CSAM The suit says explicit material was sold to high-spending subscribers through the platform’s direct messaging system and an internal storage feature called “The Vault.”5ConsumerAffairs. Web Startup Passes Faces Class Action Over Alleged Child Exploitation Rosenblum further alleges the defendants tried to cover their tracks after the exploitation was revealed, changing public statements about the platform’s compliance policies and its relationship with Celestin shortly before the suit was filed.3PR Newswire. Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Passes for Distribution of Child Pornography
Who Is Being Sued
The named defendants are Passes Inc., Lucy Guo, Alec Celestin, Lani Ginoza, Nofhotos Group LLC (a company linked to Celestin), and WLM Management LLC.6Archive.org. Rosenblum v. Passes, Inc. et al, Docket Filing
Guo founded Passes in 2022. She previously co-founded Scale AI in 2016 and retained an ownership stake after leaving in 2018.7Forbes. Lucy Guo
Celestin, 27, is identified in the lawsuit as a talent manager and “agent” for Passes. Before Passes, he worked at rival platform Fanfix as director of brand and community starting in 2022, leaving about a year later. Reporting by The City has linked him to Guo through social media, including photos celebrating Passes funding milestones, and reported that he maintains a financial stake in Passes.8The City. LA Fire Aid Fundraiser, Lineo, and Celestin Passes has publicly described him only as a “former social media contractor.”4TechCrunch. Creator Monetization Platform Passes Sued Over Alleged Distribution of CSAM
How closely Celestin was tied to the company matters to the case. If he acted as an independent contractor on his own, the company’s liability arguments strengthen. If, as the complaint alleges, he was an agent connected to the platform’s operations and leadership, the exposure widens.
How Passes Has Responded
Passes has denied the allegations. In a March 14, 2025, press release, the company called the lawsuit “meritless” and the claims “categorically false,” and said it never authorized, approved, or condoned the posting of explicit or underage content on the platform. It laid responsibility on Celestin and his assistant, saying they were “intentionally deceiving Passes and violating its rules” and were not acting on the company’s behalf.9PR Newswire. Passes Addresses Misinformation and Meritless Lawsuit Against the Company
On the specific claim involving Guo, Passes said there was “no record or recollection” of Guo interacting with the plaintiff, and a spokesperson called the allegation that she overrode safety measures “completely and utterly false.” The company also said Rosenblum and Celestin eventually moved to OnlyFans because her content was repeatedly flagged for violating Passes’ no-nudity guidelines.4TechCrunch. Creator Monetization Platform Passes Sued Over Alleged Distribution of CSAM
Passes said the suit was filed only after the plaintiff’s lawyers “demanded millions from the company, which Passes refused to pay,” framing the case as a money grab.9PR Newswire. Passes Addresses Misinformation and Meritless Lawsuit Against the Company The company also characterized surrounding media coverage as a “coordinated attempt” by competitors to defame its founder.10Passes. A Note to the Passes Community Passes said it has cut ties with Celestin and his agency and was exploring legal options against them.
Passes also maintains it is a “no-nudity platform” that uses Microsoft’s PhotoDNA technology to scan for child sexual abuse material, and says those tools had not flagged any such material on the platform.4TechCrunch. Creator Monetization Platform Passes Sued Over Alleged Distribution of CSAM The lawsuit alleges those safeguards were deliberately circumvented by company leadership.5ConsumerAffairs. Web Startup Passes Faces Class Action Over Alleged Child Exploitation
The Motion to Dismiss and the February 2026 Ruling
On April 28, 2025, lawyers for Guo and Passes moved to dismiss the case, describing the complaint as a “transparent attempt by Plaintiffs’ counsel to pursue the ‘deep pockets’ of Passes.” The motion argued that Celestin and Ginoza “acted alone” and asked the court to strike the class action designation. In the alternative, the defense sought to transfer venue from Florida to Los Angeles, where Celestin and Ginoza reside.11Inc. Lucy Guo’s Startup Passes Calls Child Pornography Lawsuit Defamatory and Seeks Dismissal
On February 4, 2026, a federal judge largely denied that motion. The court rejected the argument that Passes and Guo were shielded from liability under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally protects platforms from responsibility for user-generated content. The judge also found that the complaint’s allegations were sufficient to state potential violations of federal child pornography statutes. A separate motion to dismiss filed by Ginoza was likewise largely denied.12Clark Smith Villazor LLP. Federal Court Rules That Claims on Behalf of a Victim of Child Pornography Should Proceed Against Passes Inc
The ruling is not a finding on the merits. It means only that the plaintiff’s allegations, taken as true at this stage, are enough to move ahead. The case now proceeds into discovery and, potentially, trial.
What Changed on the Platform
Passes previously allowed creators as young as 15 to monetize content, provided they had parental consent. Its verification process required a signed consent form, a copy of a parent’s government-issued ID, and a video conference with a parent to discuss the platform. Following the lawsuit, the company announced it would no longer permit any creators under 18.13Passionfru.it. Lucy Guo, Passes, and Youth Creators
The allegations against Passes, Guo, and the other defendants remain unproven, and each has denied them. With the motion to dismiss largely denied, the next phase will test those denials against the evidence discovery produces.