Pop star Kesha and record producer Dr. Luke have been involved in an ongoing court battle over the last few years. Back in 2005, Dr. Luke of Sony Records discovered up and coming pop star Kesha and signed her to his record label. He gave Kesha her big break after using her vocals on Flo Rida’s song “Right Round,” though he never credited her on the song. In 2010, she released her album “Animal” under Dr. Luke’s label and then in 2012 released “Warrior” under Dr. Luke’s label as well. As 2014 rolled around, Kesha had to check into rehab in January for an eating disorder that her mother says that she almost died from low blood pressure and sodium. Kesha and her mother both claim that the eating disorder was partially caused by Dr. Luke after he made many rude comments about her size and weight. In October, Kesha filed a lawsuit against Dr. Luke, claiming that he had been abusing her for the last 10 years. The lawsuit states: “Dr. Luke abused Ms. Sebert in order to destroy her self-confidence, self-image and self-worth so that he could maintain complete control over her life and career.”
The lawsuit accusations were extremely shocking and inappropriate. Kesha claims that he once forced her to “snort an illicit drug” before a flight and then raped her while she was intoxicated and drugged. She said that he forced Kesha to drink with him and then gave her what he called “sober pills.” Another accusation was that Dr. Luke told Kesha “that if she ever mentioned the rape to anyone, he would shut her career down and otherwise destroy not only her life but her entire family’s lives as well.”
Dr. Luke came back with a countersuit, claiming Kesha and her mother made up the allegations to get out of an exclusive contract with him. He claimed that Kesha and her mother are trying to extort him into releasing her from their contract. Last week the battle came into the courtroom and Justice Shirley Kornreich denied Kesha’s request to be released from her contract, nothing that Kesha had been permitted to record without Dr. Luke. The judge said, “It’s not in Sony’s best interest to make no money. I will not decimate a contract that was heavily negotiated.”
Kesha as well as her fans were deeply hurt after the ruling was released but Kesha has been very thankful that her fans have been there for her in this devastating time. I personally don’t think that she should have to fulfill her contract after the pain that she’s been through with this record company. Regardless if they will allow her to record with someone else, Sony has had to undergo a lawsuit with her and there is no way they will be fully committed to promoting her music after what they’ve been through.