Judge Rules Kesha Must Remain Under Contract To Sony Despite Her Claims Producer Sexually Assaulted Her
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A judge ruled Friday that pop star Kesha must remain under contract to Sony -- despite her claims that a producer there sexually assaulted her.
There was debate and outrage over the judge's decision.
CBS2's Erica Nochlin reports when Kesha left a New York court Friday she encountered dozens of fans, many of them chanting "Free Kesha Now!"
She was sobbing when the judge ruled she must stay under contract to Sony and longtime producer Dr. Luke. She also got emotional when she saw her fans' support.
Kesha sued Dr. Luke in 2014 alleging that he drugged her and sexually and emotionally abused her for years.
He's denied the allegations and said she made it all up to get out of her contract.
"She's continuing to be victimized because she's stuck in this contract," said Britni Soto, an advocate with the group Peace Over Violence.
Soto, who speaks out as a sexual assault survivor, says the judge's ruling sends the wrong message to rape victims.
"This is a prime example of why people don't say anything - you have someone who came forward, shared her story, just wants to just get away from this person who is trying to control her, and hurt her, and she wasn't given that," Soto said.
But CBS2/KCAL9 Legal Analyst Steve Meister cautions those focusing on any one cause.
"Because a judge ruled against Kesha ... it is not necessarily a broader statement on women's issues, on rape, on sexism, on bias in the judicial system. It really could be just about the facts of this case," Meister said.
Still, other celebrities tweeted their support for Kesha on Friday.
Lady Gaga wrote, "There are people all over the world who love you @KeshaRose. And I can say truly I am in awe of your bravery."
Kesha herself tweeted, "Thank you for all the support in my legal case animals. i love all of you. it's meant the world to me."