In late 2014, pop star Kesha sued her record producer Lukasz Gottwald for various offences including sexual assault as well as physical, verbal, and emotional abuse. According to the star, the man known as Dr. Luke not only gave her a date rape drug, but also bullied her about her weight and called her nothing but a pawn as well as may other atrocious acts. One would think that this case would be solved in a timely matter, right? Wrong. Dr. Luke filed a countersunk claiming that all the allegations held against him were false, stating that Kesha and her mother were solely attempting to worm their way out of a contract.
According to Kesha, this abuse had gone on for nearly a decade. There has even been speculation that Dr. Luke has made sexual advancements on a number of young women who came to his studio, as well as other possible abuses. While this is merely rumor and small anecdotes, the main point is this: a young woman is trying to free herself from a man who has used and abused her while the man is calling her a liar. This brings us to our current point in time, the trial. Here's the gist of what happened.
"New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich denied Kesha’s request for a preliminary injunction in the case, which would have allowed the singer to record songs outside of her contract until the case is finalized. That Kesha’s request wasn’t granted doesn’t mean her case is dead, but it does mean she has a long road ahead of her. The judge said Kesha’s filing would require the court to “decimate a contract that was heavily negotiated and typical for the industry.” Dr. Luke and Sony have said Kesha is free to work with another producer on upcoming albums to fulfill her contract with the label, but that’s an offer Kesha has refused. “My instinct is to do the commercially reasonable thing,” Judge Kornreich said Friday." - The Washington Post
Sony's offer seems pretty reasonable right? Wrong again. Most likely, even if Dr. Luke allowed her to record her contractually obligated number of albums with another producer, the record likely wouldn't be given any sort of promotion or recognition from Sony. Basically, she would end up having to work for the same label as the man who sexually assaulted her and receive little-to-no compensation for her hard work and creativity. The good news for Kesha is that the case isn't over -- there's still a possibility that the court will eventually side with her, freeing her from working with her alleged abuser. The bad news? There's still a lot to be done.
With Sony on Luke's side, the battle will be hard and long. However, thousands of fans on the Internet have shown the singer support using #FreeKesha as well as several artists, including those who have also worked with Luke. This is a very typical case of a victim stepping forward to tell their story, and the abuser getting away without consequence. It's a wonder survivors even step forward at all anymore- most of the time if they do, they'll either be called a liar, or the case won't have enough evidence and the accused will keep their freedom. Nothing says safety quite like knowing your rapist or abuser walks the streets as a free man (or woman).
The heartbreaking thing about Kesha's story? She isn't even trying to put Dr. Luke in jail; all she asks is to not be forced to work so closely with the man that took advantage of her and caused her trauma. Show your support by using #FreeKesha and spread the word! We can't continue living in a world where anyone is forced to be in close contact with someone who caused them so much pain.
