I would summarize Leonard Cohen's Goebbels’ inspired propaganda blitz against me, to borrow French Commander General Pierre Bosque's remark following the tactically disastrous "Charge of the Light Brigade," as follows: "C'est manifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre, c'est de la folie." In other words, it is magnificent, but it is not true legal warfare. It is madness. It is also the epitome of dirty lawyering. Leonard Cohen spent millions upon millions of dollars developing his false narrative which was then propelled into the public realm through lawsuits, articles, interviews, press releases, biographies, and other PR techniques. I have asked a former federal judge to assist me in responding to Leonard Cohen's so-called legal campaign and correct the fraudulent record. Leonard Cohen, an ordained Buddhist monk, also mounted, with the assistance of the local government of Los Angeles (and others), a rabid attack on my family, Tibetan Buddhism, and my Tibetan Buddhist teachers, including the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, 14th Sharmapa, His Holiness Kusum Lingpa, His Holiness Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, and others. This is not the conduct of a "religious sage" as LC is currently viewed on the world stage. Leonard Cohen informed many individuals that he was Joshu Sasaki Roshi's dharma heir. I am not certain if that was for effect but his conduct with respect to me was unwholesome and thoroughly twisted. However, as LC himself has stated: his public persona was a "cover" operation.
The article explores the multifaceted legacy of Leonard Cohen, examining his revered public persona and the complexities of his private life in light of the #MeToo era. Cohen, celebrated as a poet, singer-songwriter, and spiritual figure, has become almost saint-like posthumously, with memorials and exhibitions that emphasize his creative and spiritual journeys. However, the article highlights an overlooked aspect of Cohen’s legacy: his libertine and, arguably, misogynistic attitudes, particularly in his relationships and depictions of women. His art often portrayed women as muses or objects of desire, reflecting the archetype of the “lothario” and “ladies' man.”
The article questions how Cohen would have been received in today’s social climate, acknowledging that his early career involved attitudes toward women that, while dismissed or romanticized in his time, might now attract criticism. It also contrasts the sanitized legacy presented in recent tributes with the more troubling aspects of his life and work.
This complex portrayal aligns with the public narrative Cohen perpetuated about Kelley Lynch, his longtime manager, whom he falsely portrayed in legal battles as a spurned lover and stalker after she questioned his aggressive tax strategies and matters related to entities she had an ownership interest in. This portrayal distracted from Lynch’s professional role, framing her concerns as personal vendetta rather than a legitimate business issue. Cohen’s narrative mirrored his artistic tendency to shape women’s roles around his perspective, using his charisma and influence to cast Lynch not as a businesswoman but as a figure in his ongoing, dramatized personal mythos, further complicating his legacy in light of #MeToo. See article: How Do We Come to Terms with Leonard Cohen’s Legacy in the #Metoo Era? https://sharpmagazine.com/2018/11/06/how-do-we-come-to-terms-with-leonard-cohens-legacy-in-the-metoo-era/
Disclaimer - Actual Photo - Kelley Lynch, His Holiness Kusum Lingpa, and Rutger behind His Holiness: The article and accompanying illustrations present Kelley Lynch as a "haute couture Buddhist" hipster character, which is intended as a visual and narrative projection inspired by Leonard Cohen’s descriptions and portrayals. This portrayal reflects a stylized, surreal interpretation and is not intended as a factual or personal representation of Lynch. The visual elements and narrative tone are designed to emphasize the complexity and intensity of Lynch's claims in a creative, illustrative manner, drawing on themes from Cohen's own statements and public persona as they relate to her experiences.
Copyright Information: © 2024 Kelley Lynch. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or use is strictly prohibited. All artwork on this site is the exclusive intellectual property of the creator and is protected under international copyright laws. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, modification, or use of artwork on this site in any form is strictly prohibited without prior written consent. All rights reserved.
