Taylor Swift makes bold move to back Kesha
NEW YORK -- Taylor Swift is giving some financial assistance to fellow pop star Kesha as she battles to get out of a contract with Dr. Luke, whom she has accused of drugging, sexually assaulting and psychologically tormenting her.
A representative for Swift confirmed on Sunday night that Swift had donated $250,000 to the platinum-selling Kesha in what she called a "show of support" to help her in her legal battle with Dr. Luke, the megahit producer.
On Friday, Kesha sobbed in court as a judge denied her bid to get out of her contract with Dr. Luke, who has worked with artists ranging from Britney Spears to Katy Perry to Nicki Minaj. Dr. Luke has denied Kesha's allegations, accusing the "Tik Tok" singer of fabricating the charges to get out of the contract.
While the court decision is not the final judgment in the case, the decision has led to an outpouring of support for Kesha on social media from other celebrities, including Kelly Clarkson, who once worked with Dr. Luke.
A rep for Kesha did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Swift's donation.
The dispute between Kesha and Dr. Luke is a strikingly personal fight in an industry with a long history of strife between artists and those who work with them.
"I cannot work with this monster," Kesha said in a sworn statement in August that accused Dr. Luke of raping her a decade ago after giving her a pill that knocked her out, browbeating her to lose weight to the point where she didn't eat solid food for eight days, and holding her career hostage because she spoke up.
His abuse led her to develop an eating disorder and suicidal thoughts that prompted two months in a rehabilitation clinic in 2014, her lawyers say.
But Dr. Luke, born Lukasz Gottwald, and his attorneys say the singer and her camp are trying to pressure him into letting her out of her contract.
"All of their horrific allegations of abuse, threats and other purported misconduct by me against Kesha are completely untrue and deeply hurtful," he said in a sworn statement in December. He has not been charged with any crime, and his lawyer, Christine Lepera, says "he wants his name restored."
Dr. Luke's attorneys note that Kesha herself said he "never made sexual advances at me" during sworn questioning in another lawsuit in 2011. Her lawyers say she was too frightened of him for years to disclose what happened.
Kesha Rose Sebert was an 18-year-old unknown from Nashville when she signed a contract with one of his companies in 2005, according to court papers.
Five years later, "Tik Tok" was the No. 1 song in the country. She's released two albums, most recently in 2012.
Kesha continues to play some shows, but her lawyers say the contract has essentially stalled her career because she can't stand working with her accused rapist.
Lawyers for Dr. Luke and Sony Music Entertainment - his partner in Kesha's record label, Kemosabe Records - say she's violating the five-album agreement by not recording. They say she doesn't have to work with him personally, though he has rights to produce at least six songs on each of her albums and could pursue damages if he doesn't.
Kesha's lawyer, Mark Geragos, asked a judge Friday to bar enforcement of the contract while the case plays out. While the companies said they're eager to see Kesha make and sell records, Geragos suggested they wouldn't promote anything Kesha might record without Dr. Luke.
Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich turned down the request, saying Kesha "is being given the opportunity to record."
Meanwhile, Dr. Luke and Sony have asked the judge to throw out many of Kesha's claims. Kornreich hasn't ruled.
Both sides are seeking unspecified damages.