The singer says she was offered her ‘freedom’ if she’d take back her rape claim against Dr. Luke and ‘apologise’ publicly – but she refused
After months of speculation, court-room appearances, protesting fans and PR speak from the record labels involved, Kesha just dropped a huge update on her ongoing battle to get out of her contract with former producer Dr. Luke. Uploading a picture on Instagram featuring a bare-faced Kesha looking pensively into the camera, the singer alleged she'd been offered her 'freedom', presumably meaning she could terminate her contract – but at a huge cost.
Most people will know by now, whether they're Kesha fans or not, of the singer's ongoing efforts to extricate herself from a deal she signed when she was 18 with Dr. Luke's label (which is a subsidiary of recording giant Sony). Until now, Kesha hasn't spoken much on the subject of her alleged rape, except in legal documents submitted to the court. Now, however, she's opened up about the rape she claims she experienced at the hands of Dr. Luke (real name Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald).
In the caption accompanying her Instagram post Kesha alleges that she'd been offered out of her recording contract if she denied that Dr. Luke ever raped her, and apologised publicly to the producer. Giving her fans an insight into the reality of her attempts to get out of her contract, Kesha wrote "THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS behind closed doors", before going on to describe Dr. Luke as a "monster". Aware of the possible impact her going public might have, Kesha said "I would rather let the truth ruin my career than lie for a monster ever again".
While it's difficult to prove whether Sony and Dr. Luke did ask Kesha to deny her rape allegations in return for getting out of her contract, the issue of Kesha's freedom as a recording artist remains very much at stake. Sony on their part have stated that Kesha is free to continue recording without Dr. Luke's involvement, although Kesha's lawyers have described this as an "illusory promise" in court filings.
Meanwhile, Dr. Luke has denied Kesha's most recent allegations against him. In a statement to Rolling Stone, Dr. Luke claimed that Kesha was guilty of "publicity stunts and outrageous smears", and re-affirmed that her allegations of rape against him were "false". Dr. Luke goes on to state that Kesha's "goal all along has been solely personal enrichment by seeking to break contracts that brought her success and millions so she can enter into more lucrative ones." Interestingly, however, Dr. Luke's statement doesn't explicitly deny that he asked Kesha to rescind her rape claim in return for releasing her from her contract.
As it is, today's events underscore the fact that for now, it doesn't look like the situation between Kesha and Sony/Dr. Luke will be resolved anytime soon – which means we probably won't be hearing much music from Kesha in the coming months.
