Music and movie mogul David Geffen says his estranged husband fabricated abuse and sexual exploitation claims as a part of a “a daft and contrived try and humiliate Geffen within the courtroom of public opinion and extract an out-of-court settlement.”
The accusations are available Geffen’s first authorized submitting responding to the bombshell lawsuit introduced final month by the media government’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Donovan Michaels, a former unique dancer 50 years his junior. The pair is within the midst of divorce proceedings after lower than two years of marriage.
Michaels (whose actual identify is David Armstrong) alleges within the lawsuit that Geffen handled him as a “sexual commodity” for years, solely to later depart him destitute and tossed apart “like a used object.” However the mogul argues on Wednesday (Aug. 13) that these claims are a “work of fiction” designed to “extort Geffen by publicly shaming him.”
“Plaintiff can not embarrass Geffen and extort a settlement with petty gossip and salacious lies,” writes Geffen’s lawyer Patricia Glaser. “Sadly for plaintiff, Geffen has the integrity, means and energy to litigate this case in a courtroom of legislation (somewhat than within the press) the place plaintiff’s fabricated claims can not succeed.”
Geffen says Michaels’ central declare — that he promised to offer “lifetime” monetary help for Michaels it doesn’t matter what — is an entire lie. No such guarantees had been ever made, Geffen argues, and Michaels received’t be capable of corroborate his allegations with any written documentation or witnesses.
All the opposite claims in Michaels’ lawsuit are lies, too, in response to Geffen’s answering temporary. Geffen says there was no abuse within the couple’s relationship, and that he handled Michaels with “nothing however kindness, respect and generosity.”
If something, says Geffen, Michaels was the one to make the most of him by spending lots of of hundreds of {dollars} from the mogul’s coffers on luxurious clothes, cosmetics, extravagant holidays, beauty surgical procedure, OnlyFans subscriptions and intercourse employees.
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And whereas Michaels’ lawsuit claims Geffen plied him with medication as a instrument of coercion, Wednesday’s courtroom submitting says this might not be farther from the reality.
“The allegations within the criticism that Geffen inspired and even was conscious of plaintiff’s illicit drug behavior are a pure fabrication,” writes Glaser. “Plaintiff hid his drug use from Geffen for years. Plaintiff commonly used ketamine, cocaine and maybe different unlawful medication. Geffen doesn’t.”
Michaels’ attorneys didn’t instantly return a request for touch upon Friday (Aug. 15).
With a internet value reportedly over $9 billion, Geffen has lengthy been one of many leisure business’s wealthiest figures. He launched the influential labels Asylum Information and Geffen Information, in addition to animation powerhouse DreamWorks Photos.
In line with Michaels’ lawsuit, he and Geffen met in 2016 by the web site SeekingArrangements.com. Michaels says Geffen initially paid him for intercourse, however that the connection later developed right into a severe romantic partnership.
Geffen and Michaels married in 2023 and not using a prenuptial settlement. Geffen cited irreconcilable variations to file for divorce this previous Could, and marriage dissolution proceedings are persevering with to be litigated individually from the civil case that Michaels initiated in July.
