Dr. Luke: Kesha ‘Free’ to Record Music, Rape Accusations ‘Outright Lies’
Lawyers for Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, the producer who Kesha has accused of rape and abuse, released a new statement Monday commenting on the #FreeKesha social media movement as well as the allegations against their client. Following Kesha’s denied attempt to get an injunction against Gottwald and Sony Music Friday, which in effect forced the singer to honor her contract and continue recording under the Sony umbrella, fans and artists like Lorde, Lady Gaga and Demi Lovato criticized the outcome.
The New York judge’s decision renewed a popular #FreeKesha hashtag as fans complained that Kesha was being ordered to work with her alleged rapist, but as Dr. Luke’s lawyer Christine Lepera said in a new statement, “The New York County Supreme Court on Friday found that Kesha is already ‘free’ to record and release music without working with Dr. Luke as a producer if she doesn’t want to. Any claim that she isn’t ‘free’ is a myth.” Lepera added that Sony Music has already invested $11 million promoting Kesha.
As for Kesha’s accusations of rape and abuse, Lepera denied the charges against Gottwald. “As Dr. Luke has said repeatedly, the allegations against him are outright lies that have been advanced to extort a contract renegotiation and money,” the statement continued. “Kesha and her counsel have cavalierly subjected Dr. Luke and his family to trial by Twitter, using a vicious smear campaign to ruin his reputation for financial gain while failing to support their claims.
“Tellingly, Kesha never reported any purported abuse or rape to any law enforcement authority, or even to Sony Music, and further swore under oath in another matter, while accompanied by her team of lawyers, that it never occurred,” Lepera added. “The goal of Kesha’s counsel throughout has been to obtain a more lucrative contract through a shameless campaign of outrageous claims they will never stand behind in a court of law.”
A lawyer for Kesha did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Sunday, Taylor Swift donated $250,000 to Kesha as “a show of support” during this “trying time.” “When Taylor saw the heartbreaking courtroom photos of Kesha, it was then that she knew she needed to do something,” a source close to Swift told Rolling Stone.
At Friday’s hearing, the judge reserved to rule on a motion to dismiss the abuse and rape claims until Kesha’s lawyers filed more evidence on the alleged abuse.
Full Statement From Dr. Luke’s Attorney, Christine Lepera
The New York County Supreme Court on Friday found that Kesha is already “free” to record and release music without working with Dr. Luke as a producer if she doesn’t want to. Any claim that she isn’t “free” is a myth. The sound decision Friday by the Court in denying Kesha’s motion for an injunction made it clear Kesha’s allegations of purported abuse were unconvincing and that she had no basis to void record contracts and copyrights. Dr. Luke and his companies invested in Kesha’s success through their contributions, Sony Music has already spent over $11 million promoting Kesha, and Sony Music and its label Kemosabe Records are committed to continuing to promote her work.
More significantly, the Court also noted multiple times that her vague abuse allegations were devoid of factual detail, and that there was no evidence, whether from doctors or anyone else, to support them.
Tellingly, Kesha never reported any purported abuse or rape to any law enforcement authority, or even to Sony Music, and further swore under oath in another matter, while accompanied by her team of lawyers, that it never occurred. The goal of Kesha’s counsel throughout has been to obtain a more lucrative contract through a shameless campaign of outrageous claims they will never stand behind in a court of law.
As Dr. Luke has said repeatedly, the allegations against him are outright lies that have been advanced to extort a contract renegotiation and money. Kesha and her counsel have cavalierly subjected Dr. Luke and his family to trial by Twitter, using a vicious smear campaign to ruin his reputation for financial gain while failing to support their claims. Kesha to date has never verified the allegations in this case -even when given the opportunity in her affidavit. Nor has she ever offered a credible explanation as to why she would have signed a second recording agreement, recorded two albums and an EP and signed a publishing deal with Dr. Luke after allegedly being sexually abused. It will further be shown that the incidents alleged never happened.