I remember the first time in high school when I heard "Tik Tok." I immediately began to dance to it with my friends in gym class, not knowing Kesha would grow to be a huge pop icon. I remember quoting "Blah Blah Blah" on Facebook when I was mad at my friends, and dancing to "We R Who We R" at Homecoming. However, Kesha has been in a different spotlight recently, and I am definitely on her side.
On February 19th, Kesha is photographed crying in the midst of a court hearing. She was trying to remove herself from her contract with Sony, and more importantly Grammy nominated producer Dr. Luke. All Kesha wanted was to be freed of working with the man who she says "“sexually, physically, verbally, and emotionally” abused her for a decade. Kesha claims he roofied her with drugs, and raped her. She filed in October 2014 after a rape, and fearing for her life. She stated Dr. Luke threatened to destroy her career and threatened her family’s physical safety if she told anyone. Even after all this, and the fearful tears that poured down Kesha's cheeks the judge still voted in favor of the alleged rapist. Kesha will not be set free of her six album contract with him.
How can this happen? How can someone who has provided so much profit for a company and producer not get out of a contract because of something terrifying, disgusting, and emotional? Many different other pop artists have been Kesha's main support these past couple weeks, including Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Lorde, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato.
Rape is real. Rape happens daily. We are told to report it, but look what happens when we do? I myself am a victim of sexual harassment, I told like I was taught to do since I was a little girl. You know where it got me? The inability to teach where I have always wanted to, the offender getting a promotion, and the shakiness and fear that comes with just dropping my little brother off at school knowing he is there. One in five women will be raped at some point in their lives. One in five women will be sexually assaulted while in college. More than 90% of campus assault victims do not report it. Why should they?
29% percent of perpetrators who were found out faced no consequences. 50% felt that their victim was completely responsible. Did my short skirt hold a gun to your head and tell you to rape me? Did me drinking 2 glasses of wine telepathically tell you I said it was ok to have sex with me? Did me crying the whole time mean that I was giving consent? No. Rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment is never okay. It is never ok for a man or a woman.
#FREEKESHA