Best known for her contagious party anthems, love of glitter, and enthusiasm for waking up feeling like P. Diddy, Kesha has never failed to show her fans a good time with her musical talent. While Kesha’s enthusiasm for life and her party girl attitude may make it seem like her life is carefree, the pop star is currently in the midst of an emotional lawsuit she filed against her music producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald claiming that he sexually, verbally and physically assaulted her over the past 10 years.
Kesha filed the lawsuit in 2014 in hopes to end her $2 million contract with the producer that binds her into recording 6 more albums with Luke, under his imprint with Sony Music, Kemosabe Records (RollingStone.com). Quickly after Kesha filed against him, Dr. Luke shot back, denied her allegations and filed a defamation suit again Kesha and her mother Pebe (Cosmopolitan.com).
On Friday, February 19, a New York Supreme Court judge denied Kesha a preliminary injunction that would have allowed her to continue to make music outside of her contract with Kemosabe Records. While the case continues on, the ruling was made on the basis that Kesha could not prove the validity of her claims and that she did not provide clear evidence that the loss of the injunction would cause her “irreparable harm” (Cosmopolitan.com).
Dr. Luke has taken to Twitter to defend himself claiming he has “3 sisters, a daughter and a son with my girlfriend, and a feminist mom who raised me right.” Additionally, many celebrities have expressed their opinions on the issue. Figures like Taylor Swift, Lena Dunham and Lady Gaga have shown their support for the artist through donations and kind words. Swift gave $250,000 to Kesha supporting the artist through her GoFundMe page created by fans, while Gaga reassured Kesha that “There are people all over the world who love you. And I can say truly I am in awe of your bravery.”
However, not all words have been kind. Many critics ask why Kesha waited so long to come forward with the allegations, and blaming her for not being able to provide valid evidence. T.V. personality Wendy Williams made a very harsh statement stating her side on the issue and when she asked why Kesha hadn’t put a camera in her wig and recorded Luke considering, “Men are so stupid that if you’re sexually abusing us, it’s so easy to catch you.” The figure even went as far to say that business is business and the contract should stand as it is, while New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich said, “instinct was to do the commercially responsible thing” regarding the contract negotiations (CNN.com). Where do we draw between business and justice?
Although we may not know each and every detail of the relationship between Dr. Luke and Kesha, as we reflect on Kesha’s situation we can sympathize with the frustration and pain she is feeling, and the pain of countless disbelieved sexual assault survivors across the world. Singer, Demi Lovato took to Twitter to express her disgust regarding the issue, stating how “Frustrating [it is] to see women come forward with their past only to be shot down, not believed, and disrespected for their bravery in taking action.”
Victims of sexual assault should never feel ashamed to come forward on the hardships they have endured. It is incredibly sickening to think that Kesha made the brave and daunting decision to file a lawsuit against her perpetrator only to have her creativity, voice and music kept from her, and her integrity questioned. Stand with Kesha, and with all sexual assault survivors that have dealt with the pain of disrespect and disbelief. As a long time Kesha fan, I can only hope that her intelligence, creative energy and support from her fans can carry her through this trying time.
Stand by Kesha and help buy her contract from Sony Music through this GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/freekesha
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/23/entertainment/dr-luke-twitter-kesha/
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/a54098/kesha-dr-luke-essay/
http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/19/entertainment/kesha-dr-luke-court-thr-feat/index.html
http://www.refinery29.com/2016/02/103848/wendy-williams-kesha-sexual-abuse