Why the Kesha, Dr. Luke Battle Is Resurfacing as She Likes Posts

Kesha has shown love to her fans who have supported her in the #FreeKesha movement amid her ongoing battle with music producer Dr. Luke.

The 35-year-old has been embroiled in a fight to free herself from her recording contract after she accused Dr. Luke, whose full name is Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, 49, of sexual and emotional abuse in October 2014.

Kesha has been trying to leave his label Kemosabe Records, owned by Sony Music, since 2014 but has not been released from her contract.

kesha at comic con
Kesha attends the "Conjuring Kesha" press line at 2022 Comic-Con International: San Diego on July 23, 2022. The singer has been showing love to her fans as they support her during the ongoing legal battle... Frazer Harrison/Getty Images North America

The #FreeKesha movement has remained strong on social media, with the singer herself throwing support behind fans who have tweeted about it.

Kesha has not only liked a number of tweets about the matter, but also retweeted many, including a string of celebrities who have publicly supported her.

She even spent time replying to some fans, including one who posted: "I hope everything's will be okay for you ♡ you deserve freedom and happiness. I hope you can continue to create amazing music!."

Kesha replied: "God this message means everything to me. I love you, animal. I'm so grateful I'm not alone."

'Animals' is the name Kesha's fans use to refer to themselves.

The "TiK ToK" singer even admitted to spending time online watching what her fans get up to.

"Just sitting here creeping on my animals. f****** love y'all," she tweeted on November 30.

Kesha—whose full name is Kesha Rose Sebert— moved to Los Angeles at age 17 to record music with Dr. Luke for his label.

She filed a lawsuit to be released from her record label contract after the alleged abuse, but Dr. Luke filed a countersuit against her.

Then, in 2016, New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich denied Kesha's request for a preliminary injunction, which would allow her to record music outside of that label until the other case was resolved.

In 2018, Kesha claimed she was ordered to pull her accusation of rape against Dr. Luke by the record label to be freed from her contract.

"I got offered my freedom IF i were to lie. I would have to APOLOGIZE publicly and say that I never got raped. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS behind closed doors. I will not take back the TRUTH. I would rather let the truth ruin my career than lie for a monster ever again," she wrote.

Kesha and Dr. Luke are still embroiled in a legal battle after he sued her for defamation over texts she sent to Lady Gaga where Kesha alleged he had raped Katy Perry.

The singer denied that the producer had ever abused her nor did they have a romantic relationship.

In 2020, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Schecter said Kesha's texts were defamatory and also ruled Kesha had violated her contract with Dr. Luke's company KMI over late royalty payments.

The judge ordered Kesha to pay $374,000 in interest, but her lawyers vowed to fight the verdict.

The pair are expected to face court in July 2023 over the matter.

Newsweek has reached out to Kesha for comment.

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more

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