The “Blow” singer has been in an ongoing legal battle with producer Dr. Luke (born Lukasz Gottwald) after she accused him of sexual assault and battery.
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In December, fans started an online petition urging the court to grant Kesha’s injunction so she could leave the contract and make and release music elsewhere. “My instinct is to do the commercially reasonable thing”, the judge added.
Kesha’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles in 2014, accuses hit-making producer Dr. Luke of raping her and subjecting her to other sexual and emotional abuse for almost a decade.
She claimed the 41-year-old drugged, sexually abused and psychologically tormented her. He denies the claims.
Sony have stated that Kesha could be pursued for damages and that she doesn’t have to work with Dr Luke in order for the album to be made. The judge was not swayed. She thinks that Sony wouldn’t promote her music if she doesn’t work with Dr. Luke.
It seemed like Friday, Feb. 19 would never come for Kesha, who had been waiting anxiously the day because it was when a judge would decide whether or not to release her from her Sony contract. The contract is for 6 more albums with Sony and the approving her request would undermine the state’s law.
Kesha appeared in a New York City courtroom on Friday morning, outside the courthouse a large crowd of Kesha supporters cheered the singer on as she entered the building. Her lawyer called the deal an “elusive promise” and noted that “they’re setting her up to fail”. Judge Kornreich was skeptical to the claims of Kesha’s attorneys that irreparable harms would be done to Kesha if the injunction was not issued.
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Since the court ruled, #FreeKesha has been trending for several hours with many fans expressing support for Kesha and threatening boycotts against Sony Music and Dr. Luke’s label artists.
