Despite having been accused by pop star Kesha (Rose Sebert) of allegedly having abused, drugged and raped her, producer Dr. Luke (Lukasz Gottwald) still has contractual control over Kesha’s career. On Friday, Kesha and her attorney Mark Geragos asked for a preliminary injunction that would end the long-standing paralysis this has created (it began last October) and free Kesha from her contractual obligations to Dr. Luke and Sony.
See also: Lady Gaga Opens Up About Having Been Raped; Kesha’s Lawyer Claims Dr. Luke Was the Culprit Post-Cosby, Is It Easier or Harder to Expose Famous Predators?
When Kesha had first filed claims against Gottwald, he’d fought back with his own claims that the whole thing was a fabrication being used to prematurely end her contract with Kemosabe Records (which Luke created with Sony in 2011), while Sony called her claims “transparent and misguided attempt to renegotiate her contracts.” (Kesha, meanwhile, blamed the company for endangering female artists).
Dr. Luke’s spokesperson said, “If Kesha now regrets that her career is mired in legal proceedings, it’s entirely of her making. It was Kesha who chose to file a lawsuit falsely alleging abuse to gain advantage in contract negotiations.”
Meanwhile, the request for an injunction — written by Kesha’s attorney — pressed the importance of Kesha being able to sign with a new label immediately, as she’s currently not legally able to work with producers and release new music outside of her contract:
Until this Court rules on the declaratory judgment claim, Kesha is at an impasse…With no new music to perform, Kesha cannot tour. Off the radio and stage and out of the spotlight, Kesha cannot… get media attention. Her brand value has fallen, and unless the Court issues this injunction, Kesha will suffer irreparable harm, plummeting her career past the point of no return.
This memorandum was accompanied by an affidavit from former CEO and president of Universal Music Group Distribution, Jim Urie, who ominously wrote, “If Kesha cannot immediately resume recording and having her music promoted, marketed, and distributed by a major label, her career is effectively over.” Kesha, meanwhile, had said in her own affidavit that continuing to record with Dr. Luke simply isn’t an option. “I physically cannot. I don’t feel safe in any way.”
[Via The Hollywood Reporter]