Leonard Cohen and the Struggle for Truth: A Closer Look

The saga of Leonard Cohen and Kelley Lynch is complex, marked by a deeply personal relationship that unraveled into legal disputes and public allegations. Adding to this story is Ann Diamond, an author and former acquaintance of Cohen, who offered her unique perspective on the turmoil between Cohen and Lynch. Through her observations, Diamond not only sheds light on the intricate dynamics at play but also paints a picture of Cohen that contrasts sharply with his public persona.

Ann Diamond's Perspective: Ann Diamond, who knew Cohen during a pivotal period of his life, has summarized what she witnessed and heard from Lynch. She presents an image of Cohen as a man driven by contradictory impulses: an iconic poet and spiritual seeker on one hand, and a controlling figure seeking to maintain power over those in his inner circle on the other. Diamond's insight into Cohen's behavior provides a window into his private world that many of his admirers might find surprising.

In her letter to her publisher, Simon, Diamond reflects on the stories that were told about her—many of which she later discovered Cohen had propagated.

According to Kelley Lynch, Cohen portrayed Diamond as obsessed with him, spinning a narrative that she followed him from Greece to California, attempting to be a part of his life under false pretenses. These stories, which Cohen shared not only with Diamond's acquaintances but also the media, played into a broader campaign to control and marginalize those who challenged his authority.

Diamond describes the atmosphere surrounding Cohen as "cult-like," with loyal followers who treated him as the leader of a secret society. These followers, Diamond notes, acted as spies, bodyguards, and informers, helping Cohen maintain an environment of secrecy and loyalty. She also details Cohen's alleged practice of turning against his friends, spreading gossip about them, and wielding control in subtle yet damaging ways.

Ann Diamond’s Observations on Cohen: Diamond's observations, which Lynch confirmed through her two-decade-long experience with Cohen, depict a man whose darker side contrasted with his public image: A micro-manager employing a network of spies and informers who worked for money, favors, or the sheer joy of belonging.

A gossip who often turned against his friends, constantly slandering them in private. A narcissist obsessed with polishing his image as an enlightened artist and gifted poet.

Deep envy for those more successful in the music industry, such as Bob Dylan or Phil Spector.

A recovering alcoholic addicted to prescription methamphetamines - "not for happiness."

A megalomaniac who believed he "wrote the Bible."

These observations were not merely Diamond's musings—they echoed Kelley Lynch's own experiences and what she witnessed firsthand. As Lynch recounts, Cohen’s efforts to control and silence her were driven by a desire to maintain power and keep her from sharing damaging truths about his financial dealings and personal behavior.

Cohen’s Ruthless Quest for Control: Throughout her legal and personal struggle, Lynch described Cohen as embodying both light and darkness—a poet who sang of redemption but could act ruthlessly to suppress dissent. Ann Diamond's insights further suggest that Cohen's quest for control extended beyond his creative work and into the lives of those around him. His ability to craft beautiful lyrics about love and spiritual awakening stood in stark contrast to the actions he took to maintain power and control over others, actions that were hidden behind the carefully polished facade of the humble artist.

For Lynch, Cohen’s fall from grace was not a myth but a lived experience, as the man who once inspired through his poetry became a figure of betrayal and deceit. The legacy of light and darkness is woven into the fabric of Cohen’s life, leaving a mark on those who came too close to the flame.

The Hidden Struggles Behind the Music: Leonard Cohen, the man who wrote Beautiful Losers while reportedly high on meth and LSD on Hydra, continued to imbibe both drugs and alcohol over the years. This indulgence caused the more negative and manipulative sides of Cohen to take prominence over his tortured and, at times, unhinged soul. His beautiful music and profound lyrics could not disguise the darker impulses that guided his actions, leading to a complex legacy where the artist's hidden struggles left a lasting impact on those around him.

Cohen was able to hide his darkness from even his closest friends, yet he once told Lynch that she was his 'soulmate,' suggesting an intimate bond that belied the turmoil and manipulation beneath the surface. This statement illustrates the complexity of their relationship—one marked by deep connection, but also his profound betrayal.

Leonard Cohen: Struggling with Angels and Devils

Leonard Cohen was a man of paradoxes—a renowned artist whose angelic poetry and music often belied the darker aspects of his private life. This struggle, between angels and devils, is evident not only in Cohen's creative work but also in his complex relationship with his former personal manager, Kelley Lynch. Lynch's story offers a different, more convoluted image of Cohen—one involving manipulation, control, and the harsh legal aftermath of a fractured relationship.

While the world adored Cohen for his poetic insights into love, despair, and redemption, Lynch was experiencing a different side of him—a side that wasn’t about forgiveness but about control and silencing. Their long-standing professional partnership, beginning in 1988 and stretching through the years, transformed from mutual trust to bitter legal battles involving accusations of theft, betrayal, and conspiracy. The narrative that has unfolded is not one that matches Cohen's public persona as a charming and enlightened man of wisdom and compassion. Instead, Lynch's revelations suggest a much darker side to the celebrated musician.

Cohen's Complex Financial Web: Lynch's involvement with Cohen was not just as his personal manager but also a close personal friend and someone with a deep understanding of his business and personal affairs—something Cohen appeared to increasingly find threatening. The complexity began with offshore accounts and convoluted corporate structures, set up by Cohen with the help of advisors such as Richard Westin and Neal Greenberg. Lynch describes her growing suspicion around these financial dealings, particularly when the IRS began scrutinizing Cohen's accounts in 2002. This marked the start of the unraveling of their relationship.

By 2004, Cohen was reportedly concerned about Lynch going to the IRS, fearing exposure of questionable financial practices. This led to escalating tensions, and by 2005, Cohen sought a restraining order against her. The accusations of theft and the allegations of misappropriated funds were ultimately formalized in a default judgment. Lynch maintains that she was never served with Cohen's lawsuit and thus could not defend herself, leading to a one-sided legal outcome that she has been battling ever since.

Restraining Orders: Silence as a Weapon: One of the most telling aspects of Cohen's attempt to control Lynch is the series of restraining orders that he obtained against her. The first, in 2005, came as Lynch was communicating with federal agencies, including the IRS, FBI, and DOJ, regarding Cohen's financial and tax matters. According to Lynch, Cohen was attempting to silence her as she sought clarity and transparency around these dealings. The restraining order also had the effect of shaping a narrative—that Lynch was an erratic and dangerous presence in Cohen's life—one that aligned well with Cohen's public statements and deflected scrutiny from his financial practices.

In 2008, Cohen again sought a restraining order, this time in response to Lynch's public refutation of defamatory lies Cohen had spread about her during his tour. Lynch recalls that friends and family reached out to her, alarmed by Cohen's portrayal of her, which prompted her to push back publicly. The restraining order, she believes, was intended to further discredit her and keep her from sharing her version of events.

The third restraining order came in 2011, during the enforcement proceedings sanitizing Cohen's public image, focusing on the IRS's scrutiny, Cohen's tax fraud allegations, and his notorious "good rock 'n roll story" about Phil Spector—a story that seemed to evolve with each retelling. Lynch points out that this coincided with the former prosecutor in the Spector case running for re-election, a time when Cohen seemingly gave a command performance to sanitize his reputation and shield himself from damaging allegations. During this time, the media was filled with misogynistic statements about Lynch and outright lies regarding federal tax matters, all intended, she asserts, to maintain Cohen's untarnished image.

The Devil in the Details Cohen's public narrative about his financial troubles often centered on Lynch—she was painted as the villain who misappropriated his funds, forcing him back on the road to tour in order to recoup his losses. But Lynch offers a different story—one where she was offered half of everything Cohen owned, along with community property and intellectual rights, in exchange for her silence and, allegedly, for providing false testimony against his representatives. When she refused, Lynch says Cohen and his legal team escalated their campaign to ruin her—from tarnishing her reputation in the media to orchestrating coordinated legal actions aimed at destabilizing her life.

Throughout this legal and personal struggle, Cohen seemed to embody both the angel and the devil—the poet who sang of redemption and the man who sought to crush dissent from those who knew his secrets. Lynch’s story adds nuance to Cohen's image, suggesting that his quest for control, both over his creative work and those around him, could at times take on a ruthless edge. His ability to weave beautiful lyrics about love and spiritual awakening contrasts sharply with his attempts to control and suppress those who challenged him.

The Struggle for Redemption: The story of Leonard Cohen and Kelley Lynch is ultimately one of disillusionment. It raises questions about the true nature of those we idolize, and the gulf that can exist between public persona and private actions. Lynch, who knew Cohen intimately for two decades, found herself caught between the angels and devils that seemed to inhabit his soul. The legal battles, the restraining orders, and the accusations were all part of Cohen's struggle to retain control over his public narrative, even as it crumbled behind the scenes.

For Lynch, Cohen's angels and devils were not just metaphorical—they were real forces that shaped her life, casting her from a position of influence and trust into one of homelessness, legal strife, and social isolation. While Cohen sang of love, forgiveness, and spiritual struggle, the actions he took in his personal life reflected a much different struggle—one for power, silence, and control. The angels and devils were not just in his songs; they were in the choices he made, and the lives he affected.

Ultimately, Leonard Cohen appears to be a fallen angel—one whose beautiful music and profound lyrics could not disguise the darker impulses that guided his actions. Fallen angels are also known as demons, evil spirits, and unclean spirits. For Lynch, Cohen’s fall from grace was not a matter of myth but of lived experience, as the man who once inspired with his poetry and music became a figure of betrayal and deceit. The legacy of angels and devils, of the light and the dark, is woven into the fabric of his life—and it left a mark on all those who came too close to the flame.

Theatre of the Absurd Daily Mail Style Remix

How the legendary poet of melancholy became embroiled in a scandal involving deceit, manipulation, and a shocking betrayal of his closest confidante. Leonard Cohen: the name itself evokes images of soulful melodies, poetic longing, and the aura of a wise, introspective troubadour. But behind the smoky charm and gravitas that captivated audiences worldwide lies a tale of deception, manipulation, and outrageous betrayal—revealed by those who knew him most intimately. From the Chelsea Hotel to Bay of Pigs Delusions: Cohen's Theatre of the Absurd Among the most notorious stories Cohen told was the infamous gun incident with eccentric producer Phil Spector. Over the years, Cohen seemed to relish retelling it, offering countless contradictory versions, each more outrageous than the last. In one account, Spector held a gun to Cohen's head, telling him he loved him—a moment Cohen spun with a twisted humor that only added to his rock and roll legend.

But here's where the story takes a wildly absurd twist, one worthy of the Theatre of the Absurd. Picture this: a young, hip Kelley Lynch, in her chic haute couture hipster ensemble, sitting in a studio, listening to Cohen as he embellished every word of this Spector tale. Her disbelief was palpable—because, really, how far could Cohen go with his tales? Our Most Important Spy - Field Commander Cohen

Cohen as CIA Recon During Bay of Pigs? You Can't Make This Up! If you thought the Phil Spector gun incident was as bizarre as it gets, think again. Cohen’s taste for weaving the absurd into his life story knew no bounds. Kelley Lynch has recounted Cohen's audacious tales of being a CIA recon operative during the Bay of Pigs invasion—yes, that Bay of Pigs. He regaled her with details of covert operations on the beach, all while Lynch, the hipster in haute couture, listened in sheer bewilderment. Was it true? Who knows! But for Cohen, it wasn't the truth that mattered—it was the drama, the legend, the mystique.

Misogyny and Manipulation: The Ugly Truth Behind Cohen’s Poetic Mask Perhaps the most shocking revelation in Cohen's posthumous dismantling has been his ruthless treatment of Kelley Lynch—once his trusted confidante, publicly called a "blessing" by Cohen himself. As Lynch began uncovering financial discrepancies in Cohen’s tangled web of corporations, Cohen’s behavior turned ugly. Desperate to silence her, Cohen and his lawyer, Robert Kory, went as far as to try and drive a wedge between Lynch and the father of her younger son, literally walking into his office and lying that she had had an affair with Oliver Stone. Spoiler alert: it wasn't true. Stone himself publicly confirmed that he and Lynch were never lovers, and Lynch has since vehemently challenged Cohen's misogynistic lies.

Buddhist Poet or Ruthless Hustler? Steven Machat, son of Cohen's original manager, painted an equally unflattering picture of the artist. According to Machat, Cohen was a "hustler using Buddhism as a façade"—a man who claimed to eschew material wealth while quietly orchestrating tax avoidance schemes and exploiting those closest to him. The contradictions between Cohen’s public persona as a humble Buddhist monk and his private financial maneuvers were as sharp as the cutting lyrics in his songs.

The Myth of Leonard Cohen Begins to Crumble Leonard Cohen's body of work may continue to touch the hearts of millions, but the stories of those who knew him paint a vastly different picture. Ann Diamond, a writer who was once close to Cohen, described his manipulative nature and how he used charm as a weapon to control and deceive those around him. She spoke of the professional destruction faced by those who dared to challenge him, including herself and Kelley Lynch.

These testimonies reveal a darker side to the supposed "poet of the spirits." The man who serenaded the world with songs of longing and wisdom was also capable of cold, calculated cruelty. His was a complex legacy—a carefully curated public image that concealed a trail of deceit, broken promises, and betrayed confidences. The Protected Celebrity: A Tale as Old as Hollywood Cohen’s manipulative behavior went unchecked, aided by a fortress of lawyers, accountants, publicists, and even local government actors. In Kelley Lynch’s case, Cohen was shielded by the Los Angeles City Attorney, the Los Angeles District Attorney, and the LAPD’s Threat Management Unit—institutions that seemed more interested in protecting a celebrity than seeking the truth. This is, sadly, the well-worn playbook of many Hollywood icons—misconduct hidden behind an army of handlers, with narratives spun to uphold the myth while leaving victims like Lynch crushed under the weight of the star's public glory.

Separating the Art from the Artist The question remains: can we still enjoy Leonard Cohen's music, knowing what lay beneath the surface? His haunting lyrics and melodies touched millions, but the darkness behind those songs—the betrayal, the lies, the manipulation—casts a long shadow over the art. It’s a reminder that the world of celebrity is often more illusion than reality, a theatre of the absurd where the line between truth and fiction is blurred, and the casualties are all too real.

The Untold Story of Kelley Lynch, Leonard Cohen, and the Hidden Battles with the Cohen Estate and Family Trust

In the world of music and poetry, Leonard Cohen's name resonates as one of the greatest. Known for his iconic songs like "Hallelujah" and "So Long Marianne," Cohen was more than a musician—he was a poet, a thinker, and a man deeply in touch with the struggles of love, loss, and life's inevitable falls. Yet, behind the scenes, his career and personal affairs were far more complex, entangled in legal and financial troubles that would eventually lead to a contentious fallout between Cohen and his longtime personal manager, Kelley Lynch.

Lynch, who worked with Cohen for 17 years, found herself embroiled in a web of tax disputes, allegations of fraud, and attempts to defame her character—culminating in one of the music world's most shocking betrayals. The Beginning: A Promising Partnership

Kelley Lynch began working with Cohen in April 1988, shortly after the sudden death of his longtime manager and attorney, Marty Machat. Stepping into this role, Lynch had big shoes to fill but was well-prepared, having worked with Machat on projects for icons like Phil Spector and Cohen himself. In the early years, Lynch handled traditional management duties: overseeing Cohen’s tour for his iconic album I’m Your Man, working with the record company and tour promoters, and helping boost Cohen's catalog value by securing the rights to songs like "Suzanne." She also managed Cohen’s son, Adam Cohen, launching his music career and securing a recording deal.

Marty Machat’s Legacy and the Financial Shift Marty Machat's death marked significant changes in Cohen's financial affairs. Without the guiding hand of his seasoned manager, Cohen turned to Herschel Weinberg, his personal family attorney, to help untangle various offshore accounts that had been established during Machat’s time. Cohen later told Lynch that Rolf Budde, his publisher in Germany, had helped him create these offshore accounts. After Rolf’s death, his son Andre Budde confirmed this information for Lynch. Budde handled the German-speaking (GAS) territories for Cohen, although the exact timeline for establishing the accounts remains unclear. This marked the start of a complex financial saga, involving the establishment of new entities, convoluted deals, and a growing web of offshore companies that Lynch found increasingly suspicious.

IRS Concerns, Multiple Social Security Numbers, and the Earlier Audit Shortly after Machat’s death, Lynch noticed discrepancies involving Cohen's social security numbers. In 1988, the IRS reached out about inconsistencies in Cohen’s records. Despite Cohen's testimony that he never changed his social security number, IRS documentation showed otherwise, raising suspicions about possible fraud. During this period, Cohen and Weinberg worked to unravel offshore accounts such as New Era B.V., which handled Cohen’s music publishing. Lynch was asked to assist Cohen’s transactional attorney, Peter Shukat, with issues that arose during this process. These maneuvers raised alarms, particularly when Lynch discovered substantial sums being transferred through these accounts—such as a $100,000 gift to Cohen's then-girlfriend Dominique Issermann—raising concerns about tax evasion and income allocation.

In 1996, the IRS conducted an audit of Cohen's first intellectual property transaction: the sale of Leonard Cohen Stranger Music, Inc. to Sony. The audit scrutinized Cohen’s decision to gift stock from Stranger Music to the Mt. Baldy Zen Center, which added complexity to the tax implications of the deal. Lynch worked with Cohen’s accountant, Ken Cleveland, throughout the audit, which ultimately concluded favorably for Cohen. However, these events highlighted Cohen's pattern of using convoluted transactions to achieve financial and tax advantages. It was during this transaction that Machat & Machat's ownership interest in Leonard Cohen Stranger Music, Inc. was effectively disregarded. Cohen sold the entity's share without compensating Machat & Machat and withheld commissions due to them following Marty Machat's death—actions that further raised suspicions about Cohen's handling of financial matters.

The Tipping Point in 2002 The breaking point for Lynch came in 2002. By then, she was deeply aware of Cohen's financial and tax dealings. Cohen instructed her to assist his accountants and lawyers with documentation concerning two tax-related 1099s—one for $1 million and another for $7 million—which should have been issued to Traditional Holdings, LLC but were instead issued directly to Cohen. This caused panic among his advisors. Lynch became increasingly alarmed by what she was witnessing, feeling that Cohen or his representatives were attempting to obscure the truth and deceive the people involved, although she was not entirely sure of their exact intentions. Cohen had instructed Richard Westin to invoke attorney-client privilege on behalf of Neal Greenberg, which effectively left Lynch locked out of crucial information regarding what was going on.

Around this time, Lynch spoke with Steve Blanq at Hochman Rettig, the firm Cohen had brought in to handle the IRS investigation into the 1099s and ultimately assist with a tax petition in Tax Court and resolve the issue with the IRS Chief Trial Counsel. Lynch explained her concerns and tried to provide relevant documents related to Traditional Holdings, LLC, but Blanq informed her that Westin had invoked attorney-client privilege, effectively excluding her from the conversation. Lynch also heard lies being transmitted to Hochman Rettig by Westin on behalf of Cohen. Despite attempting to address these issues with Hochman Rettig, Cohen and Westin obstructed her efforts, leading to Lynch's growing concern. Given that the IRS had issued a request for business records to Sony, Lynch reviewed the request and ensured she took home all the documents they needed, including those that related to her ownership interest in the entities at issue, contracts, and more. Traditional Holdings, LLC: A Complicated Entity Traditional Holdings, LLC was intended to serve as the vehicle for Cohen's intellectual property and provide tax advantages.

In 1999, Cohen began negotiations with Sony for an $8 million intellectual property deal, leveraging this entity. Lynch’s role in both of these intellectual property transactions was to aid in negotiations, working directly with both Sony and Cohen's transactional lawyers to facilitate any requests for documents or information from all involved parties—including Neal Greenberg, Richard Westin, Ken Cleveland, and others. Cohen was deeply involved in the day-to-day details of these transactions as they unfolded, with Lynch primarily assisting with coordination, logistical support, and negotiations—including issues related to the delivery of Cohen's album Dear Heather, which arose later but were tied to the Traditional Holdings structure.

Dear Heather was a studio album requirement, and Cohen had promised Sony that he would tour to support it. Sony even wrote to Cohen, thanking him for letting Lynch cut through the over-lawyering by dealing directly with Stuart Bondell from Sony Business Affairs and resolving or tabling items related to the deal so it could close, the album could be delivered, and the advance paid.

Cohen insisted on structuring the deal as a stock sale rather than a straightforward asset sale, a decision that would later prove problematic. Lynch noticed glaring issues, such as Westin's concerns about “collapsible corporation” rules and the likely IRS scrutiny that would follow attempts to convert ordinary income into capital gains—a red flag for potential tax evasion. Richard Westin: A Lawyer Who Inspired Distrust Richard Westin was introduced to Cohen by Neal Greenberg and was brought on to help restructure Cohen’s business dealings and manage tax implications. However, Lynch found Westin evasive and incoherent, and his explanations often left her with more questions than answers. Even other professionals, such as those at the Grubman firm, found his suggestions unsatisfactory.

Later, she learned that the Grubman firm had consulted their outside counsel about Traditional Holdings, LLC, and were informed that it "wouldn't fly with the IRS." This confirmed what Lynch had suspected all along. Due to the way these matters were handled—particularly the formation of Traditional Holdings by Cohen and his lawyers—Lynch had asked for an indemnity agreement regarding her role in the entity. She did not fully understand her position or how she had invested in it via a promissory note. After discussing these concerns with Cohen, he instructed Westin to prepare the agreement for her, ensuring that she wouldn't be left with debt related to the promissory note if Cohen were to die. Initially, Lynch thought this was a considerate gesture, but she later saw it as part of an ongoing scheme.

The Role of Neal Greenberg Neal Greenberg played a prominent role in Cohen’s financial dealings. He was, in Lynch’s view, a manipulative figure who defrauded many people, including elderly individuals and the Buddhist community he was a part of, until he was investigated and effectively shut down by the SEC. Despite his unethical behavior, Cohen had a close professional relationship with Greenberg and seemed to hold him in high regard. The Growing Web of Financial Complexities As the years went by, Cohen’s financial affairs grew even more convoluted.

Lynch was a key figure supporting Cohen as he pursued multiple intellectual property transactions, including a deal involving his catalog with Sony. She was responsible for facilitating these deals and assisting with negotiations that Cohen believed would ultimately benefit him. However, the deeper Lynch delved, the more she saw that these complexities were both legal and ethical. In retrospect, Lynch realized that her role had evolved far beyond that of a typical manager. She had become embedded in a network of legal structures, tax arrangements, and business deals—many of which carried significant risks. The evasive answers from Cohen’s advisors further fueled her suspicions. When these financial dealings began to unravel, Lynch found herself at the center, particularly as Cohen’s insistence on retaining control over his intellectual property while attempting to circumvent tax liabilities came into focus.

A Story Still Unfolding What began as a promising partnership based on trust and creative collaboration spiraled into a legal and financial quagmire, leading to lawsuits, accusations, and a very public fallout. Kelley Lynch’s story is one of loyalty that turned into disillusionment—a journey from the height of fame into the shadows of complex financial dealings and their consequences. As the lawsuits continue to unfold, Lynch’s revelations about Leonard Cohen, his estate, and the Family Trust are shining a light on the dark side of fame, exposing the lengths some will go to in order to protect their wealth.