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Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Billionaire David Geffen, 82, lashes out at sex and drugs claims made by husband, 32, in explosive divorce war
Billionaire mogul David Geffen has rubbished his estranged boytoy husband's explosive claims that he's a sex and drug-crazed abuser. Geffen, 82, branded 32 year-old Donovan Michaels' divorce filing allegations 'false and pathetic'. Donovan Michaels, 32, alleges that his billionaire beau Geffen, 82, forced him to take drugs, subjected him to abusive sex and controlled his every move, according to the latest lawsuit in their messy divorce battle. The most jaw-dropping part of the suit alleged that Geffen forced Michaels to have all his body hair lasered off and that he'd once flown into a rage at the sight of an ingrown hair. The pair met in 2016 on a dating website often used by rich people looking for younger partners. Geffen, a movie and music producer worth about $9 billion, allegedly paid Michaels $10,000 for sex on the night they met, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The pair would go on to form a relationship and ultimately married in 2023 without a prenup, according to the complaint. Michaels said in the complaint that he was targeted by Geffen because he was a vulnerable, marginalized young gay black man who spent the majority of his life bouncing around in the foster care system before turning to erotic dancing to make ends meet. The lawsuit claims that Geffen commanded Michaels to use drugs like cocaine and molly (MDMA) alongside the entertainment mogul's friends on his 450-foot superyacht, The Rising Sun. The suit also claims that Geffen enjoyed physically dominating his sexual partners and causing them pain, which triggered Michaels' childhood trauma. This allegedly caused him digestive issues, headaches and a desire to isolate himself. David Geffen, 82, has been sued by his husband Donovan Michaels, 32. He claims Geffen forced him to take drugs, subjected him abusive sex and controlled his every move Much of the wrongdoing alleged by Michaels was said to have occurred on Geffen's 450-foot superyacht, the Rising Sun The complaint further alleges that Geffen told Michaels 'where to go, what to wear, what to read, what to watch, and what to say.' The lawsuit even accused the billionaire of making Michaels to undergo painful cosmetic treatments. Geffen is also alleged to have told Michaels he had to be constantly available to him, preventing him from being able to pursue a modeling career, according to the suit. In May of this year, Geffen filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split, according to a petition seen by Daily Mail. Michaels' lawsuit claims that Geffen did this because after years of being 'a prop in Geffen's theater of virtue,' Michaels finally approached his husband and asked to renegotiate the terms of their union. He 'wanted a new beginning wherein he could stand shoulder to shoulder with Geffen as an equal free from power dynamics that existed,' the suit said. Michaels claimed that Geffen rejected this, cut him off financially and immediately demanded a divorce. Michaels is suing Geffen for breach of contract, alleging that he promised to take care of him financially but left him near broke and without a home. 'It was a sick game,' the complaint states. 'Michaels became a prop in Geffen's theater of virtue, paraded around as evidence of Geffen's supposed altruism, while privately used as a sexual commodity.' Michaels is suing Geffen for breach of contract, alleging that he promised to take care of him financially but left him near broke and homeless The complaint also alleges that while Geffen was at the Jeff Bezos–Lauren Sanchez wedding in Venice he ordered Michaels to 'immediately vacate' their New York property, leaving him without a home (Geffen is pictured with Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble in Venice for the wedding) Geffen's attorney Patty Glaser hit back at the allegations, denying them completely. 'There was no contract — express, written, oral, or implied — that has ever existed,' she said in a statement to Daily Mail. 'We will be vigorously and righteously defending against this false, pathetic lawsuit.' The complaint also alleges that while Geffen was at the Jeff Bezos–Lauren Sanchez wedding in Venice in late June, he ordered Michaels to 'immediately vacate' their New York property, leaving him without a home. The suit claims that 'at the very same time, Geffen was decadently and extravagantly partying and dancing the night away in Venice, Italy with the other .0001% of the wealthiest people on the planet.' In one of the divorce documents prepared by Geffen's lawyer, Laura A. Wasser, it states that the pair separated in on February 22, 2025, months before the Bezos wedding. As well as Michael's claims about their final days together, the lawsuit includes a series of astonishing allegations about what went on during their relationship. 'Geffen also found additional ways to satisfy his unquenchable thirst for control over Michaels,' the lawsuit claims. The former model turned go-go dancer claimed in his lawsuit that Geffen 'used Michaels' tragic story not as a reason to offer genuine support, but as a grooming tool – casting himself as savior, "white knight," mentor, and gatekeeper to a better life' 'With backhanded insults and put-downs about Michaels' past and lack of sophistication, Geffen cultivated Michaels' insecurity and self-doubt. He critiqued every aspect of Michaels' appearance and exercised strict control over his body hygiene.' The billionaire record executive is accused in the lawsuit of ordering his ex-lover to 'undergo extensive, painful' treatments to conform to his idea of 'perfection.' 'Geffen required Michaels to undergo extensive, painful laser and dental treatments. Even something as minor as an ingrown hair could provoke Geffen's ire and prompt a barrage of instructions to correct the imperfection,' according to the complaint. Michaels claims he was 'awestruck by Geffen', a 'philanthropist' who 'talked the talk' when the younger man revealed issues 'during his underprivileged upbringing,' during the ill-fated couple's first meeting nine years ago. In his complaint, Michaels said he 'opened up to Geffen', confiding in him 'about the painful realities of his life – his traumatic upbringing in the Michigan foster care system, his lack of a real family, his instability, and his prior run-ins with the law'. He went on that he 'spoke candidly, not to gain sympathy from Geffen, but because he believed he had finally found someone who could understand and maybe even care'. But Michaels claims his then future husband 'weaponized [his] vulnerability to fulfill his own personal fantasies', including the lucrative financial transaction he alleges was made on the first night they met. The former model turned go-go dancer claimed in his lawsuit that Geffen 'used Michaels' tragic story not as a reason to offer genuine support, but as a grooming tool – casting himself as savior, "white knight," mentor, and gatekeeper to a better life'. The younger man claims he became a 'private sexual object and a public prop' that Geffen allegedly used to show off his 'self-proclaimed altruism to impress his powerful network'. 'From that moment forward, Geffen began transporting Michaels across the globe as his paid sex worker,' the complaint continued.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billionaire David Geffen's Estranged 'Boy Toy' Husband Hits Him With Bombshell Accusations In New Lawsuit
David Geffen's already contentious divorce with his estranged husband, Donovan Michaels, has now taken a dramatic turn with Armstrong filing a lawsuit alleging breach of contract and accusing Geffen of "exploitation." Michaels claims that the billionaire entertainment mogul treated him as a "living social experiment" and plied him with drugs for him to use. It comes after David Geffen filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences between him and Donovan Michaels, following their two-year marriage. David Geffen's Estranged Husband Files Lawsuit Accusing Him Of Exploitation David Geffen's estranged husband, Michaels (AKA David Andrew Armstrong), has filed a lawsuit claiming that the entertainment mogul was "masquerading as a white knight while hiding behind wealth, philanthropy and fame." According to court documents filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Michaels asserts that Geffen treated him like "a living social experiment — a trophy to show off to his wealthy friends, under the guise of benevolence." He claimed that his nine-year relationship with the 82-year-old billionaire, which included a two-year marriage, mirrored the plotline of "Trading Places," with a "young vulnerable black man, orphaned as a toddler" drawn into the web of "an exploiter." The model further noted that they first met on the website a website "where men like Geffen shop for the vulnerable," after which Geffen paid him $10,000 for sex on the first night in 2016. Michaels added that Geffen drew him into a web of alleged exploitation, then dumped him "just as easily as he had acquired him." Donovan Michaels Alleges He Was Used As A 'Sexual Commodity' By The Billionaire Elsewhere in the explosive lawsuit, the 32-year-old model noted that Geffen only saw him as an object to exploit and seemingly weaponized his trauma for his "personal gratification and public image." He says their relationship was a "sick game" where he became a "prop in Geffen's theater of virtue, paraded around as evidence of Geffen's supposed altruism, while privately used as a sexual commodity." While the relationship reportedly evolved, with Geffen promising to treat Michaels as a life partner and share all earnings and assets together, Michaels now claims the promise was a trap, one which he gave up his modeling career to pursue. In the complaints, Michaels also alleged that Geffen plied him with "a variety of illicit drugs," including cocaine and cannabis and that he was expected to use them with the billionaire and his friends, but "Michaels' traumatic past was an emotional ticking time." The Couple Does Not Have A Prenuptial Agreement It comes after Geffen, co-founder of DreamWorks and various record labels, filed for divorce from Michaels in May, citing "irreconcilable differences." According to TMZ, the couple did not have a prenuptial agreement when they got married in 2023, and that has now led to speculation about the financial implications for Geffen, whose net worth is estimated at $8.7 billion. "This reinforced Michaels' belief that the relationship was genuine and enduring," Michaels' complaint said of their lack of a prenup. "What Michaels did not know at the time was that this was nothing more than a transaction to Geffen." David Geffen 'Breached' Their Agreement, Donovan Michaels Claims He said that he gave his body, love, labor, and youth to Geffen for years but "could not take the abuse from Geffen, nor keep up with Geffen's proclivities, and suffered from addiction." Michaels claims that when things got difficult between them as he no longer fit the "carefully curated narrative Geffen had crafted for his social world," the Hollywood executive cut him off. He further noted that Geffen demanded a divorce, and "breached his years-long promises and agreements." Donovan Michaels Is Unlikely To Get Much From Their Divorce Michaels' previous filing suggests he's in line for a substantial portion of Geffen's money. Court documents obtained by TMZ showed that his lawyer, Samantha Spector, checked a box that asks the judge to "Determine rights to community and quasi-community assets and debts." That's significant as Geffen has been retired for 15 years and has no income other than investments, including property sales and dividends from stocks and equities. However, those assets are all separate property. It seems Michaels won't receive much in the way of cash because, under California law, dividends from stocks that are separate property are also considered separate property. The former go-go dancer is demanding spousal support, which Geffen agreed to pay when his lawyer filed the divorce documents. However, Michaels would only be entitled to 1 year of spousal support as California laws stipulate that the receiving partner would only receive such payments for half the duration of their marriage.
NDTV
25-04-2025
- NDTV
US Lawyer Tortured Women With Cattle Prod, Shock Collar While Raping Them
New Delhi: A New York City lawyer has been accused of transforming his Midtown apartment into a torture chamber, where he allegedly raped, drugged, urinated on, and abused women using a cattle prod and electric shock collar. Ryan Hemphill, 43, was indicted Thursday on 116 criminal counts, including predatory sexual assault, rape, and witness tampering after prosecutors said he lured at least six women through "sugar daddy" websites and subjected them to hours of sadistic abuse. Between October 2024 and March 2025, Hemphill allegedly used platforms like Seeking Arrangements, Craigslist, and FetLife to pose as a wealthy benefactor offering cash in exchange for companionship or sex, as per Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. But when the women arrived at his apartment near the Empire State Building, they encountered what prosecutors described as a "house of horrors." Hemphill allegedly restrained the victims with handcuffs, slapped and punched them, and subjected them to psychological and physical torment. In several instances, he allegedly used a cattle prod to shock women, and forced others to wear an electric shock collar - devices typically used on livestock - while raping them. He also allegedly urinated on some of the women and reenacted past sexual traumas that victims had confided in him about. Prosecutors say Hemphill drugged the women, either by force or deception, using heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine - all of which were later found in large quantities in his apartment. Surveillance cameras were hidden throughout his home, capturing videos of the encounters. According to Bragg, the recovered footage shows dozens -potentially hundreds - of different women. "The defendant told survivors he was untouchable," Bragg said during a press conference, as per The NY Times. He used his law degree and money as both sword and shield - manipulating, coercing, and silencing his victims, Bragg added. "The indictment makes clear that he was wrong," he said. After the assaults, Hemphill allegedly used intimidation tactics to prevent the women from reporting him. He threatened them over text, claiming ties to law enforcement and organised crime, reported People Magazine. In one message, he told a victim not to bother contacting the police because he "knows half the precinct." In another case, he reportedly drafted a contract offering $2,000 to a woman in exchange for dropping her complaint with the Manhattan Special Victims Squad. Some victims were even forced to record videos saying the encounters were consensual - later used as leverage. Hemphill was arrested on March 1. During a search of his apartment, police recovered a cattle prod, shock collars, hundreds of bullets, high-capacity magazines, fake currency, handcuffs, and large amounts of narcotics. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and was ordered held without bail at Rikers Island. This isn't the first time Hemphill has faced accusations of violent behaviour. In 2015, he was tried for allegedly choking an ex-girlfriend and holding a 10-inch knife to her throat. A jury found him not guilty.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
NYC executive used apartment to rape, torture women in 'calculated campaign of violence': prosecutors
WARNING: This story contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some readers. A private equity executive used a New York City apartment as a torture chamber where he raped, punched, shackled and used a cattle prod in a series of depraved acts involving six women, Manhattan prosecutors said Thursday. Ryan Hemphill, 43, has pleaded not guilty a 116-count indictment charging him with predatory sexual assault and other crimes dating back to last October. He faces life in prison. To conceal his crimes, Hemphill, who is also a lawyer, threatened to have the women arrested or killed by falsely claiming to have vast resources and connections to police and organized crime, prosecutors said. Deported 'Maryland Man' Championed By Dems Was Pulled Over Driving Car Belonging To Human Smuggler "The details in this case are beyond disturbing — a sustained, calculated campaign of violence and cruelty that targeted vulnerable women. This kind of predatory abuse has no place in our city and will be met with the full force of the law," New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said in a statement announcing the charges. Read On The Fox News App Hemphill met many of the victims on dating websites like (formerly known as Seeking Arrangements), SugarDaddy and SugarDaddyMeet, FetLife and Craigslist, where he offered them money for sex and companionship, authorities said, adding that he sometimes paid them with counterfeit money. Hemphill's apartment had multiple surveillance cameras, and investigators have recovered images showing dozens, if not hundreds, of other women, many of them naked and blindfolded, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Mirah Curzer told Judge Ann Scherzer during a Thursday hearing where Hemphill was present. Investigators also found hundreds of bullets and high-capacity magazines, and a large amount of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, and fentanyl, prosecutors said. Trump Admin Files First Racketeering Charges Against Massive Migrant Terrorist Group Present In Us As Hemphill got to know the women, he allegedly convinced them to confide their past sexual traumas, which he then deliberately reenacted as he assaulted them, Curzer said. He forced or tricked them into ingesting various drugs that rendered them unconscious or significantly impaired, prosecutors said. In addition, he also slapped and punched them repeatedly and tied them up with handcuffs and other restraints. In one incident, one of the victims was left shackled to Hemphill's bed as she begged him to let her go. Hemphill also used a cattle prod, an instrument meant for livestock, and a shock collar that he forced some women to wear around their necks, including while he raped them. He also allegedly tortured them psychologically by threatening them with guns and knives, urinating on them, and verbally humiliating and demeaning them. Some victims were allegedly forced to record videos in which they stated that they consented to being raped and tortured, which Hemphill allegedly used to convince them that they wouldn't be believed if they reported him. Scherzer ordered Hemphill to remain jailed after prosecutors raised concerns about him possibly fleeing the country, citing his wealth and connections — including a history of philanthropy and family real estate holdings. Hemphill's alleged behavior, the judge said, "shows his extent to which he's willing to go to protect himself from facing these charges." Fox News Digital has tried reaching out to Hemphill. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: NYC executive used apartment to rape, torture women in 'calculated campaign of violence': prosecutors
Fox News
25-04-2025
- Fox News
NYC executive used apartment to rape, torture women in 'calculated campaign of violence': prosecutors
WARNING: This story contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some readers. A private equity executive used a New York City apartment as a torture chamber where he raped, punched, shackled and used a cattle prod in a series of depraved acts involving six women, Manhattan prosecutors said Thursday. Ryan Hemphill, 43, has pleaded not guilty a 116-count indictment charging him with predatory sexual assault and other crimes dating back to last October. He faces life in prison. To conceal his crimes, Hemphill, who is also a lawyer, threatened to have the women arrested or killed by falsely claiming to have vast resources and connections to police and organized crime, prosecutors said. "The details in this case are beyond disturbing — a sustained, calculated campaign of violence and cruelty that targeted vulnerable women. This kind of predatory abuse has no place in our city and will be met with the full force of the law," New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said in a statement announcing the charges. Hemphill met many of the victims on dating websites like (formerly known as Seeking Arrangements), SugarDaddy and SugarDaddyMeet, FetLife and Craigslist, where he offered them money for sex and companionship, authorities said, adding that he sometimes paid them with counterfeit money. Hemphill's apartment had multiple surveillance cameras, and investigators have recovered images showing dozens, if not hundreds, of other women, many of them naked and blindfolded, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Mirah Curzer told Judge Ann Scherzer during a Thursday hearing where Hemphill was present. Investigators also found hundreds of bullets and high-capacity magazines, and a large amount of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, and fentanyl, prosecutors said. As Hemphill got to know the women, he allegedly convinced them to confide their past sexual traumas, which he then deliberately reenacted as he assaulted them, Curzer said. He forced or tricked them into ingesting various drugs that rendered them unconscious or significantly impaired, prosecutors said. In addition, he also slapped and punched them repeatedly and tied them up with handcuffs and other restraints. In one incident, one of the victims was left shackled to Hemphill's bed as she begged him to let her go. Hemphill also used a cattle prod, an instrument meant for livestock, and a shock collar that he forced some women to wear around their necks, including while he raped them. He also allegedly tortured them psychologically by threatening them with guns and knives, urinating on them, and verbally humiliating and demeaning them. Some victims were allegedly forced to record videos in which they stated that they consented to being raped and tortured, which Hemphill allegedly used to convince them that they wouldn't be believed if they reported him. Scherzer ordered Hemphill to remain jailed after prosecutors raised concerns about him possibly fleeing the country, citing his wealth and connections — including a history of philanthropy and family real estate holdings. Hemphill's alleged behavior, the judge said, "shows his extent to which he's willing to go to protect himself from facing these charges." Fox News Digital has tried reaching out to Hemphill.
