Singer-songwriter Kesha has gained widespread support from fans and fellow celebrities after the singer’s injunction was denied in court on February 19. Kesha Rose Sebert, formerly known as Ke$ha, is well known for her single “Tik Tok,” “Your Love Is My Drug,” and her albums, Animal and Warrior.
In October, 2014, Kesha filed a suit claiming that her producer, Dr. Luke, has “sexually, physically, verbally, and emotionally abused Ms. Sebert to the point where Ms. Sebert nearly lost her life.”
Kesha filed for a court injunction that would allow her to record new music apart from Dr. Luke, Lukasz Gottwald, while the case proceeded through the courts.
New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich denied the injunction saying, “there has been no showing of irreparable harm. She’s been given opportunity to record.”
Gottwald tweeted about the allegations saying, “I didn’t rape Kesha and I have never had sex with her.’” He said, “Kesha has already denied under oath the horrible allegations now being made against me,” referring to another case in 2011 when Kesha testified in deposition that Gottwald had never made an advance toward her.
Following the denial of the injunction, the hashtag #FreeKesha began to trend. Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, Lady Gaga, Lorde, Ariana Grande, Sara Bareilles and more have showed their support for Kesha.
Taylor Swift donated $250,000 to help Kesha with any financial needs that emerge throughout the trial. The new case is still ongoing while both sides collect evidence.
“All I ever wanted was to be able to make music without being afraid, scared, or abused,” Kesha wrote, “This case has never been about a renegotiation of my record contract — it was never about getting a bigger, or a better deal. This is about being free from my abuser. I would be willing to work with Sony if they do the right thing and break all ties that bind me to my abuser.”
However, Kesha entered into agreements with Dr. Luke’s company Kasz Money, and not Sony itself. On February 25, Sony lawyer Scott Edelman told The New York Times that the company is “not in a position to terminate the contractual relationship between Luke and Kesha and Sony is doing everything it can to support the artist in these circumstances, but is legally unable to terminate the contract to which it is not a party to.”
The massive amount of public support for Kesha from industry icons has seemingly convicted Gottwald. Kesha’s contract with Gottwald is up in early 2017. Rumors have been sent around that Sony plans to drop Gottwald from their brand, but Christine Lepera, Gottwald’s attorney denies these claims. “His representatives are in regular contact with executives at the highest levels at Sony and this has never come up,” Lepera said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.
James Sammataro, entertainment lawyer, does not believe that Gottwald would be open to a buy-out from Sony for his contract. That is “unless the price tag is oversized” according to Sammataro. “He’d be left with no artists, aside from those willing to collaborate with him on a traditional producer basis, and a quasi-tainted reputation.
Lepera described the situation as a “trial by Twitter.” Although there is overwhelming public support for Kesha, contract law requires more than a hashtag to negotiate. “Any claim that [Kesha] isn’t ‘free’ is a myth,” according to Lepera.
Jenna Glidden
Intern