A judge today denied Kesha her injunction to end her contract with Dr. Luke – despite the fact that she alleges he raped her
Bad news for Kesha fans everywhere – the pop star has just been denied her injunction releasing her from her recording contract with Sony. Kesha had been pinning her hopes on today’s trial, hoping that it would free her from her contract with ex-manager and producer Dr. Luke.
Kesha will remain under contract with Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records label, which is owned by music industry behemoth Sony. According to tweets from a Buzzfeed reporter present in the courtroom, Kesha sobbed as the verdict was announced, and was comforted by her mother.
What this means in practical terms is that Kesha will remain an artist on Dr. Luke’s label, despite the fact that she alleges she was raped, physically and verbally assaulted during her time working with the record producer. The judge, Justice Shirley Kornreich, rejected Kesha’s request for an injunction as “extraordinary”. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Justice Kornreich said that she had faith that Sony would “do the commercially reasonable thing” and allow Kesha to record without Dr. Luke’s involvement, although Kesha’s own lawyer described that as an “elusive promise”.
It's frightening that we punish abuse victims for fighting back, forcing them to relive a nightmare. The legal system is scary. #FreeKesha
— April Lockhart (@AprilLockhart) February 19, 2016
"he made her famous" this is not an excuse for rape and never will be an excuse. #FreeKesha
— ️ (@spnsides) February 19, 2016
This is why rape victims are scared to speak up. They are looked down upon and made out to be liars, it isnt fair. #FreeKesha
— sam (@ihatedaddylouis) February 19, 2016
While today’s news is undoubtedly heart-wrenching for Kesha and her fans, a tiny sliver of hope does remain. Having earlier said that she needed more evidence, such as hospital records, to judge Kesha’s allegation of assault against Dr. Luke, Justice Kornreich has requested more information from Kesha’s lawyers on this topic. As such, if Kesha’s defence team is able to provide the information the judge is after, there might still be a chance that Kesha can escape her deal with Sony – which her lawyers claim have left her feeling ‘suicidal’.
Outrage at Kesha’s treatment swept social media, even as the singer left the courtroom to greet her waiting fans in tears. While the #FreeKesha hashtag trending on Twitter may grant Kesha some scant comfort in knowing that her fans still root for her, the reality is that, for now, Kesha is locked in a legal nightmare which threatens to permanently end her music career.
CUE THE #FREEKESHA CHANTS! 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/hwtPQDSC9j
— j α м ε s. (@newyorkinstinct) February 19, 2016