Trigger Warning: This article discusses topics such as sexual abuse. Please read with caution if this may affect or trigger you.
The backlash against pop artist Troye Sivan came out almost immediately following his announcement to add Kim Petras as the opening act for his upcoming tour. The main concern fans had was with Kim's known past in defending Kesha's sexual abuser, Dr. Luke. Her rationale for defending him is that she personally had never experienced any problems with him.
However, by continuing to work with Dr. Luke, Kim, in many ways, has discredited Kesha's experience. By providing Dr. Luke with any sort of notoriety or financial benefit, she was allowing him to continue to profit rather than cutting off ties to stand by Kesha's side. A true friend, or even just an ally, would believe Kesha. One of the biggest reasons sexual assault goes so under-reported is the victim's fear of not being believed.
The affiliation Kim Petras has with Dr. Luke should discredit her from even being an option on Troye's list.
When Troye eventually acknowledged the backlash, he explained: "I want my shows to be a celebration in a safe space." However, merely having Kim Petras on tour negates the safety of this space. I, and many fear that buying a ticket to this tour may lead to the profit of a sexual abuser-- Dr. Luke. Due to Kim's affiliation with him, he may contractually profit financially or at least profit in branding and connections. This provides a sexual abuser with a larger platform to continue to perpetuate manipulation and control over others.
So, for those who have experienced sexual abuse, this space is inherently not safe because they will have had to financially back a rape apologist (and possibly a sexual abuser himself) to obtain access to the "safe space" by buying tickets to the tour.
Troye has tried to defend the choice by explaining that he spoke with Kim and that she apologized. However, Kim took to Twitter to resolve the situation. Her public apology to fans held a few problems. Firstly, it was exceptionally short. In comparison to Troye Sivan's (who was only responsible for bringing her on tour and not actually the one defending a sexual abuser), it was rather pathetic. Troye's was at least three paragraphs, but Kim's was maybe one.
The second problem was that she claimed to be learning and growing, but failed to disaffiliate from the sexual abuser. One particular quote that startled me was "While I've been open and honest about my positive experience with Dr. Luke, that does not negate or dismiss the experience of others or suggest that multiple perspectives cannot exist at once."
Firstly, Kim Petras couldn't even directly say Kesha. She used vague wording as a way to brush over the subject rather than tackle it head-on. However, that's not even the main problem here. The thing is: there are not multiple valid perspectives on rape. Rape is rape. It is wrong. If you have a perspective that rape is morally okay, then you have an invalid perspective. Rape takes rights away from another individual. Kim is saying here that because she had a positive experience with Dr. Luke, her perspective on Dr. Luke is therefore positive. However, when you discover that a colleague or even a friend is a sexual abuser, you should never stand by their side. Regardless of how great they treated you if you cannot recognize that their treatment of another (especially sexual abuse) wholeheartedly negates that, then you are not an ally in any sort of way.
While Kim Petras may feel that Kesha's sexual assault is not her place to speak out on, she is missing the bigger picture. Kesha was repeatedly forced into silence and often found herself voiceless in the fight. Much of Kesha's resolve, strength, and the impact was found in those who stood by her. Kim Petras was not one of those people. In fact, by continuing to stand by Dr. Luke she gave undeserving credibility to his platform and continues to do so. Emma Watson once said "If not me, who? If not now, when?". If Kim Petras cannot speak out against Dr. Luke, who will? We all must help Kesha and other victims of sexual assault bring their abuser to justice. It's on us.
"I didn't communicate this clearly in the past." No, Kim. You did. And that's the thing. Your actions of continuing to affiliate with Dr. Luke speak louder than your words of "sympathy" to sexual assault supports.
Oh, and Troye? Donating some money to RAINN will not cover up the fact that you have a rape apologist on tour with you. I am begging you, someone, I have supported, to please reconsider. Be an advocate for your fans, not just another person who allows profits to cloud judgment.
