David Geffen's Estranged Husband Drops Civil Lawsuit After Making Salacious Claims About Being Used

By Favour Adegoke on October 21, 2025 at 7:45 PM EDT

David Geffen and Donovan Michaels
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David Geffen's bitter split from his estranged husband, Donovan Michaels, has taken a decidedly less dramatic turn.

According to new reports, Michaels has formally withdrawn his civil lawsuit against the media mogul and is now settling through mediation.

It comes after the former model alleged that David Geffen demanded sexual "domination" over him and controlled his appearance with painful surgeries and laser treatments.

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David Geffen's Estranged Husband Withdraws Salacious Civil Lawsuit, Settles For Mediation

Billionaire David Geffen on way To Loewe Fashion Show In Paris
Tim Regas / MEGA

Things seem to be quieting down between Geffen and his estranged boytoy husband, Michaels. The former go-go dancer has withdrawn the salacious civil lawsuit he filed against the billionaire music mogul in July, in which he alleged that Geffen breached a contract.

Court documents showed that his lawyer, Bryan Freedman, filed a motion to dismiss the suit without prejudice, meaning the case has temporarily been ended and can be refiled at a later date.

The legal expert, who also represents Justin Baldoni in his sexual harassment lawsuit against Blake Lively, told TMZ that the financial conflict tied to the case would be resolved in mediation.

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Geffen and Michaels did not have a prenup when they got married. The 32-year-old says he's entitled to community property, but Geffen, who has been retired for 15 years, reportedly has no community income.

Michaels will now take many of his more ambitious monetary demands off the table, as court mediation is limited to community property and spousal support.

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Donovan Michaels Claimed The Billionaire Used Him For 'Personal Gratification'

DAVID GEFFEN WITH LAPTOP OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS
MEGA

Meanwhile, filings reveal that the 82-year-old Geffen has paid Michaels $200,000 since their split in February, as well as another $200,000 for rehabilitation, and is also covering his $15,000-per-month rent in Manhattan.

The pair were only married for 23 months, which means Michaels is only entitled to spousal support for a year.

In the now-dropped civil suit, Michaels alleged that Geffen had targeted him and weaponized his trauma for "personal gratification and public image," claiming that he was promised lifelong financial support in exchange for giving up his career.

Michaels further claimed that their split was about the systemic exploitation of a vulnerable and marginalized young gay black man by a wealthy, powerful white gay billionaire who believed he could get away with anything.

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"Behind the glittering façade of their relationship was a calculated pattern of abuse and commodification," the legal document read.

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David Geffen Allegedly Demanded Sexual 'Dominance' From His Estranged Husband

Jeff Bezos and David Geffen in Saint Tropez
Spread Pictures / MEGA

Elsewhere in his bombshell lawsuit, Michaels alleged that the Hollywood studio boss insisted on sexual "dominance" and forced him to subscribe to painful surgeries and laser treatments to maintain a spotless appearance.

He explained that as little as an ingrown hair could trigger Geffen, who'd waste no time in bashing him for the perceived flaw.

Geffen allegedly funded painful surgeries to preserve his younger look as "the existence of an ingrown hair was enough to raise Geffen's ire and trigger a flurry of instructions to correct the imperfection."

Donovan Michaels Said The Billionaire Enjoyed 'Causing Pain'

David Geffen and Donovan Michaels
X | ResistanceSean

Michaels alleged in his lawsuit that the film producer also demanded such an extreme sex life, one in which he "gained satisfaction from causing pain" and sought "total dominion" over him.

He added that the media mogul prevented him from pursuing a career of his own and left him managing his properties as a glorified "house husband."

"[Geffen] wanted to be the savior, the white knight, and the 'top,'" the legal filing read.

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David Geffen Blasts Donovan Michaels' Lawsuit As 'A Work Of Fiction'

Billionaire David Geffen on way To Loewe Fashion Show In Paris
Tim Regas / MEGA

Micheals' lawsuit was met with a strong reaction from Geffen, who accused him of using "ludicrous and contrived" allegations to extort cash from him and publicly humiliate him.

In court documents filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, Geffen stated that he never promised Michaels "life-long financial support if the couple separated."

He also claimed that the former dancer's claims of abusive sexual acts, painful cosmetic procedures, and illicit drug usage are an "alternate reality."

Geffen's lawyers called Michaels' complaint "a work of fiction" and an "attempt to humiliate Geffen in the court of public opinion and extract an out-of-court settlement" through the use of "petty gossip and salacious lies."

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