About three weeks ago I wrote an article about the tumultuous and traumatic three years Kesha has endured from a legal battle with her producer Dr. Luke. On February 19, Kesha attended her judgement day in court that would determine whether or not she would be allowed out of her contract with the man whom she alleges sexually, emotionally and physically abused her for ten years. Our justice system failed Kesha Rose Sebert. 
Kesha’s February 19 court date was to determine whether or not Kesha would be allowed out of the contract due to the heinous allegations she made. Many believe that if Kesha was not allowed out of the contract, she would be set up to fail. She is owned by Sony and Dr. Luke and they can control what type of music she puts out, ultimately having control over her future. When it came to the much-anticipated ruling, the New York Supreme Court judge stated (according to People Magazine):
“You're asking the court ... to decimate a contract which was heavily negotiated and signed by two parties in an industry where these kinds of contacts are typical; you're asking me to decimate all that law," said the judge. "Now the other side has come forward to say, 'We will let her record without Dr. Luke.' I don't understand your problem ... It's not in [the company's] best interest to not make money and not promote a recording artist."
Kesha broke down in tears as she heard the devastating news. She is required to stay in her contract, work with Sony and most likely work with Dr. Luke for six more albums. While this court case was not directly fighting for the sexual and emotional abuse Kesha claims to have endured, the outcome speaks a lot about our legal system.
Many celebrities came forward in supporting Kesha after the news broke about the judge’s decision in court. Lady Gaga, Lorde, Kelly Clarkson, Bea Miller, and Ariana Grande are just a few of the celebrities that came to Twitter that started the international trending hashtag, “#FreeKesha.” There’s a bigger problem here than Kesha's music career being in the hands of Sony. The bigger problem that has been clearly demonstrated here is how our justice system handles sexual assault.
Our justice system has failed to acknowledge the fact that a young woman has made herself 100 percent vulnerable and raw to hopefully gain the justice she deserves. Kesha, like many other sexual assault victims, told her stories over and over again, reliving every disgusting and tragic moment this man she once trusted put her through. Kesha put herself in the most vulnerable position she could, in hopes that our justice system would recognize that she came forward with these traumatic allegations and give her the justice she deserves. Her lawsuit for justification to leave her contract is filled with horrible allegations of times she’s claimed Dr. Luke drugged her, raped her, abused her and made her feel less than human. A New York Supreme Court judge said Kesha was asking him to break the law by freeing her from her assaulter. Our system failed her.
Ask Kesha why victims don’t come forward with their stories. According to RAINN, only 2 percent of rapists serve time in jail. While her court case was to free her from her contract, the justice system failed to recognize a victim asking for help. For the next six albums, Kesha will be forced to work with the company that employs and pays her assaulter. Kesha lawyers are trying to fight the judgement but nothing has been said or stated officially or publicly. Show your support to Kesha by tweeting or standing by the next victim our justice system fails. For more information on sexual assault and all your options if you or someone you know is a victim, please visit: https://rainn.org/
#FreeKesha
