David Geffen Fires Back Against ‘Ludicrous’ Shakedown

Photo Credit: David Geffen (Instagram)

Billionaire mogul David Geffen fights back against his ex-husband’s post-divorce shakedown, insisting he treated his ex with “nothing but kindess.”

David Geffen insists his ex-husband’s claims of coercion and abuse are a “work of fiction,” following Donovan Michaels’ salacious lawsuit filed earlier this summer. The 32-year-old Michaels alleges that his billionaire ex, 82-year-old media mogul David Geffen, subjected him to abusive sex and controlled his life. Now, Geffen is fighting back.

The two met in 2016 on SeekingArrangements, a dating website used by the wealthy elite to find significantly younger partners. Geffen allegedly paid Michael $10,000 for sex on the night they met, which led to a whirlwind relationship and marriage in 2023 without a prenuptial agreement.

Michaels sued Geffen for breach of contract, accusing him of using “a toxic mix of seduction, control, promises of love, and lavish displays of wealth to entrap him” in a “cycle of dependency, submission, and humiliation.” Among the claims in Michaels’ lawsuit, Geffen forced him to remove all his body hair, and allegedly flew into a rage over an ingrown hair.

Now, Geffen is refuting those claims, promising that the allegations against him are false. He denied that there had ever been a promise to provide Michaels with a life of luxury until his death. He also denied allegations of asset ownership.

“There was no contract—express, written, oral, or implied—that has ever existed. We will be vigorously and righteously defending against this false, pathetic lawsuit,” said Geffen’s attorney Patty Glaser. “Plaintiff cannot embarrass Geffen and extort a settlement with petty gossip and salacious lies.”

Geffen also asserts that Michaels burned through massive amounts of cash during their relationship, charging luxury purchases to Geffen’s accounts through assistants. That included fine clothing, gifts for friends, plastic surgery, and—as the relationship began to deteriorate—OnlyFans and male escort services.

“Geffen loved Plaintiff and treated him with nothing but kindness, respect, and generosity throughout their relationship,” reads the filing, which also notes that the younger man had been living rent-free in a New York apartment paid for by Geffen, and received a voluntary monthly allowance.

The filing characterizes Michaels’ lawsuit as little more than an attempt to embarrass Geffen into an unwarranted settlement and asks for it to be dismissed.