UPDATE: Court Denies Kesha’s Request To Nullify Sony Contracts

Unfortunately, this update also includes news that even if Kesha works with a new producer (which Sony has offered), Sony won’t promote her music. She’s basically stuck working with Dr. Luke if she wants to make a living, and she still has six albums to go before her contract with Sony is up. The judge also said there was “no evidence” that Dr. Luke had abused her, as if she should’ve had a video camera with her when she was being raped. Hopefully justice can eventually be served. In the meantime, you can support Kesha by tweeting the hashtags #FreeKesha and #SonySupportsRape.

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[Original Post]

A story that is getting new light is the lawsuit singer Kesha is filing against her producer Dr. Luke. Kesha claims that Dr. Luke abused her for ten years, in one instance drugging and raping her. I remember hearing about this earlier, but only as a rumor.

Now that they’re in a legal battle, however, I feel it’s an important subject to talk about. Rape victims have a hard time speaking up about what happened to them because they are afraid of the consequences of their actions like what Kesha is currently experiencing. She’s unable to do any sort of work with music, whether that’s recording, touring or selling merchandise, and her producer is utterly denying the claims.

I’m not saying I know that Dr. Luke is guilty. However, going on what I’ve heard and a little common sense, I believe she’s telling the truth. Here’s why…

Kesha isn’t exactly known for being an icon of virginal purity. Hold on, hold on… I know what you’re thinking, but don’t stop reading until you’ve heard all I have to say. Kesha has been pretty upfront about her sexuality and sex life. She’s not shy about telling it like it is, and although she’s suffered from both anorexia and bulimia, she has never gone to treatment for alcoholism or drug addiction. Her mother has said repeatedly that Kesha steers clear of drugs because it’s something she, her mother, struggled with.

So here’s this famous singer-songwriter who loves the party scene but (allegedly) doesn’t do drugs or abuse alcohol, but thrives on a career with songs about partying and getting drunk. She does, however, seem to be in control of when and with whom she’s partying. Her unashamedly candid talk about sex and guys leads me to believe that conscious decisions to sleep with them were made and that she wasn’t coerced while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

This is important because one of the things she’s accusing Dr. Luke of is raping her. Not only does she say he verbally abused her to the point that she developed an eating disorder, saying he repeatedly used derogatory terms about her weight, but Kesha also claims that he gave her what was called a “sober pill” when she was feeling the effects of alcohol when she was out partying one night. She woke up in his bed the next morning, apparently not remembering how she got there.

What would lead a famous singer to falsely accuse her producer, the guy in control of her career and money-making ventures, of abusing and raping her if she knew that it could mean the end of her career? Why would she want to drag out a court battle when she has to abstain from doing her job in the meantime? Why would she go after Sony, one of the biggest entertainment corporations, and involve them in a court battle as well, claiming that they did nothing to stop Dr. Luke’s abuse? She’s going up against a recording giant that has a vast wealth that far outweighs hers, so something tells me she’s not doing this for kicks or, as Sony and Dr. Luke accuse her of, to try and get out of her contract.

Sony even had the nerve to say this:

“This admission — that Sebert never spoke of or reported the alleged misconduct — is fatal to each and every one of her claims against Sony and Kemosabe Records… In short, Sebert cannot have it both ways: She cannot claim that Gottwald intimidated her into silence, then — as an apparent afterthought — seek to hold Sony and Kemosabe Records liable for failing to act on conduct that she did not report.”

So she was bullied into silence by her abusive producer, and now the she finally has the guts to call him out, you’re calling her claims invalid?

People who are abused often don’t have the self-confidence or courage to stand up for themselves because they’re afraid of being abused even more. They’re afraid no one will listen and that the abuse will get worse as a ramification for their rebellious actions. It’s terrifying to stand up to your abuser. This person who has controlled your life and made you fearful for so long could go off their hinges if you speak up, so it’s no wonder why women (and men and children alike) don’t speak up.

Some startling claims from RAINN (the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) will send chills down your spine:

• 293,000 people a year are victims of sexual assault
• 68% of assaults are not reported to the police
• 47% of rapists are a friend or acquaintance

Kesha shouldn’t be punished for being afraid to speak up right away. It took a lot of courage to accuse someone she works with closely of abuse and rape, and I really don’t think she would have anything to gain from doing this other than getting out of her contract early, but that seems like an awful lot of hassle (to put it very lightly) just to get out of a contract.

All in all, I think Kesha deserves to be freed from her abuser. A hashtag was trending on Twitter Tuesday called #FreedomForKesha, and I’m glad people are raising awareness about her plight.

That being said, we need to raise awareness for the millions of women who have suffered sexual, verbal and physical abuse over the years. It’s a sad world we live in, where abusers have more rights than the abused, but we can change that and make things better for the victims.

If you or someone you know is suffering abuse, here are some helpful contacts:

• National Sexual Assault Hotline (1800.656.4673)
• National Domestic Abuse Hotline (1800.799.7233 or 1800.787.3224)

Hopefully for Kesha, and for all victims of abuse, she and others can find the help they need. I pray that God will watch over them and give them a refuge in times of trouble. We, as fellow human beings, need to do all we can to stem the violence and abuse.