Sobbing in the courtroom as the judge announces the verdict, 28-year-old pop singer, Kesha, learns that her request to nullify her contract with Sony, and her accused rapist, Dr. Luke, has been denied. Claiming that Dr. Luke (Luke Gottwald), drugged and raped her when she was 18 then continued to physically and mentally abuse her for years, Kesha sought to invalidate her contract with Sony that brought her into contact with the producer.
Although Sony has offered to let Kesha work with other producers, the consequences of that decision will hinder her career because she believes her music will not be as heavily promoted as if it were produced by Dr. Luke, causing her request for nullification. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornriech judged the case ruling on the principle that “Sony would suffer irreparable harm if Kesha does not abide by a contract.” Because of this, Kesha is required to make six more albums with Sony.
And so this begs the question: what does this say about the society we live in? When did a contract become more important than a person’s safety and well-being? Why is this case’s verdict focused on monetary gain instead of a crime?
According to the Rape, Abuse, And Incest National Network (RAAIN), 80 percent of victims are under the age of 30, 47 percent of offenders are a friend or acquaintance, 68 percent of assaults go unreported, and 98 percent of offenders will not spend a day in jail or prison. When most people see these alarming statistics, the first question they ask is, “Why don’t the victims report to the police?” And the answer lies within this one case. Many victims live in fear of their abusers, feel like they are to blame for the assault, or are humiliated by the incident.
There are many reasons why these crimes go unreported, and seeing a wealthy woman of Kesha’s status not get justice does not encourage them to come forward. The fact that Kesha has to remain working for the same company that employs the man that committed a heinous crime against her speaks volumes about our culture. Dr. Luke was never criminally charged for his actions and she wasn’t looking to charge him; she was just trying to get away from him and the court denied it.
So what does this case tell the victims of sexual violence? It lets them know that a contract is more important than their safety. That even reporting the assault doesn’t guarantee that their abuser will be charged. That their abuser will not have to pay for what they have done, and that they could possibly do it again. It discourages victims from coming forward. It allows the abuser to strike again. This is one of the many facets of society that has to change. After an incident as traumatizing as this, a victim should be able to go to police knowing that their abuser will be punished. More than 2 percent of offenders need to see prison time for what they have done, and victims have to start reporting.
