Rape. It is no secret that it happens, and it is no secret that guilty people are never convicted for it. It is no secret that 68 percent of rapes go unreported because of the fear that no one will believe them, and the evidence won’t support them.
When victims of rape who do speak out and press charges against their rapists, they often times fail. Ninety eight percent of rapists get off on the grounds that there was not sufficient evidence.
One of the biggest stories that has surfaced recently is the Ke$ha trial.
Ke$ha, born March 1, 1987 in Los Angeles, left school at the age of 17 and decided to try and kickstart her career as a musician. She first got her start in Flo Rida’s hit “Right Round” and was not paid for her work.
Dr. Luke, a producer for a Sony record label called Kemosabe Records, signed Ke$ha to a six album contract. Before the allegations, he recorded two of her albums.
In 2014, Ke$ha sued Dr. Luke alleging that he drugged her and raped her. She also stated that he had been verbally and emotionally abusing her for the past ten years. She claimed that he forced her to snort an illegal drug and then gave her what he called “sober pills,” but in reality, they were actually “the date rape drug.”
The drug he gave her is called gamma-hydroxybutryate, and is a heavy sleep aid, which can only be prescribed by a doctor. This drug, when mixed with alcohol, can be deadly. It is a nervous-system depressant and after repeated use, it can cause a dependency on the drug.
Ke$ha described waking up the next afternoon, stripped of her clothing, aching and sick, in Dr. Luke’s bed with no recollection of what happened the night before after consuming the pills.
To add insult to injury, Ke$ha, along with other artists who have worked with Dr. Luke, describe him as despicable. He would talk about getting girls drunk and having sex with them as if he were bragging about it.
In the initial lawsuit statement, Ke$ha said that Dr. Luke threatened to destroy her and her family if she did not cover up his sexual assaults.
When Dr. Luke and his lawyers caught wind of this lawsuit, they filed one against Ke$ha on claims that she is just trying to get out of her record deal with Dr. Luke. He alleged the claims against him are an extortion attempt made by an unhappy artist.
In the past ten years that Ke$ha has been working with Dr. Luke, her contract has given very little room for artist profit, which means Dr. Luke is getting the bulk of the money that comes in from her record sales. He refused to renegotiate her contract while also insulting her looks and talent. He completely shattered her self image and controlled literally every aspect of her life. He even forced himself into an executive producer position on Ke$ha’s reality show, “My Crazy Beautiful Life.”
Because of this mental abuse, Ke$ha developed an eating disorder and was checked into a rehabilitation facility. If her condition would have stayed the way it was, she would have suffered serious health problems, and even death.
Dr. Luke, if found guilty, will be charged on the grounds of sexual harassment, sexual assault and battery, gender violence, civil harassment, unfair business, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
On February 19, 2016, a judge shot down Ke$ha’s request for a preliminary injunction that would allow her to record and release music herself, outside of her original contract.
Her fans haven’t given up, though. There are online petitions, funds, and pleas for the judge to repeal the decision about the contract.
On February 24, Kesha posted to her fans via Facebook. The status read as follows:
“I’m so, so beyond humbled and thankful for all of the support I’ve received from everyone. Words cannot really express the emotions I’ve gone through reading and seeing how amazing everyone has been to me. I can’t believe that so many people all over the world took the time to show me support and love. Other entertainers who knowingly put their own careers at stake by supporting me, I will be forever grateful.
All I ever wanted was to be able to make music without being afraid, scared, or abused. This case has never been about a renegotiation of my record contract – it was never about getting a bigger, or a better deal. This is about being free from my abuser. I would be willing to work with Sony if they do the right thing and break all ties that bind me to my abuser.
But at this point, this issue is bigger than just about me.
I think about young girls today – I don’t want my future daughter – or your daughter – or any person to be afraid that they will be punished if they speak out about being abused, especially if their abuser is in a position of power.
Unfortunately I don’t think that my case is giving people who have
been abused confidence that they can speak out, and that’s a problem.
But I just want to say that if you have been abused, please don’t be afraid to speak out. There are places that will make you feel safe. There are people who will help you. I for one, will stand beside you and behind you. I know now how this all feels and will forever fight for you the way perfect strangers have been fighting for me.
Yes, I am very much a feminist, but more than that, I am a humanist. I believe in supporting my fellow human beings in being SAFE.
We’re all in this together. You are not alone.
I love you and thank you.”
The bottom line is this: no man or woman should ever feel victimized, whether it be emotionally, mentally, physically, or sexually, by a person that holds a position of power over them. The pain of going through a trial can be daunting, but there is always the chance that the man or woman who has assaulted you will be put away in jail.
If you, or anyone you know has been sexually assaulted, do not be afraid to speak out. If you are a student at Appalachian State, you can call the campus police at (828)-262-2150, the counseling center at (828)-262-3180, or student health services at (828)-262-3100.
Sources:
http://www.biography.com/people/kesha-562676#commercial-breakthrough
http://www.people.com/article/kesha-releases-dr-luke-trial-statement-about-being-free-from-abuser
http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6281722/kesha-sexual-assault-lawsuit-text-dr-luke
http://www.passionweiss.com/2015/11/17/what-happened-to-kesha-a-timeline/