Last month, pop singer Kesha was in court to testify against her producer Dr. Luke. In a Rolling Stone article from Oct. 2014, she wanted him charged with sexual assault and battery. She said that her producer was, “sexually, physically, verbally, and emotionally” abusive towards her for an extended period of time. Apparently he has been making sexual advances towards her since she first signed with him, when she was just 18-years-old.
Fast forward almost 2 years later. Kesha is in court with Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, so she can be freed from her contract which states that, she is required to make music with only Dr. Luke, under his label. On Feb. 19, she lost her court case. She was not freed from her contract and to make her music, she has to remain under Dr. Luke and his label. She was devastated.
Over the course of these (almost) 2 years, the hashtag #FreeKesha has been trending and has been used in many twitter accounts both famous and non-famous.
Music artists from Lady Gaga to Fiona Apple to Taylor Swift have showed their support for the pop singer.
Free Kesha pic.twitter.com/8BjZXq98Qf
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) February 24, 2016
i support @kesharose. #freekesha
— tyler oakley (@tyleroakley) February 19, 2016
Trying 2 not say anything since I can't say anything nice about a person… so this is me not talking about Dr. Luke https://t.co/lLhtUHbmgG
— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) February 19, 2016
#FreeKesha 💗 this is only gonna make you stronger, you brave and beautiful girl. Prayers are with you 🙏🏼 @KeshaRose
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) February 20, 2016
Photo above is of singer Fiona Apple. Photo was posted by comedian Margaret Cho on Instagram
Last month’s Oscars held a performance by Lady Gaga singing her anti-sexual assault anthem “Til it Happens to You.” During the course of the performance, many survivors joined Lady Gaga on stage and sang with her. Kesha then tweeted her support and thanked Lady Gaga and the survivors for their courage.
Taylor Swift donated $250K to Kesha two days after the verdict that could ultimately affect Kesha’s music career forever.
DJ Zedd has also told reporters that he is “very serious” about him collaborating with Kesha and wants to help her create new music. “All I know is that she’s in a very rough position and if there’s anything I can ever do to help I’ll always be happy to do that,” he told reports.
Jack Antonoff, member of the bands Fun and Bleachers and a producer, offered to help produce new music with Kesha and show his support.
https://twitter.com/jackantonoff/status/700808778615169025
https://twitter.com/jackantonoff/status/701818864930156544
https://twitter.com/jackantonoff/status/701819340807507969
This is still a developing story. Details may change and more legal issues may arise. But let us hope that Kesha can sort things out and maybe she will have a chance to make music again in a safe, non abusive environment.
