The Kesha and Dr Luke Defamation Battle Unveiled: A Shocking Revelation
Get the scoop on Kesha and Dr Luke's intense defamation battle Discover the shocking accusations, legal victories, and the denied Sony contract release in this gripping story
Kesha Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
In 2014, Kesha made abuse allegations against Dr. Luke, which led to the music producer retaliating with a defamation lawsuit. Court documents, obtained by We in October 2014, revealed that Kesha recounted an incident from 2005. According to her account, she woke up in Dr. Luke's bed, naked, feeling unwell and with no recollection of how she ended up there. This occurred after the founder of Kemosabe Records allegedly provided her with what he referred to as "sober pills."
Kesha alleged in the legal document that Dr. Luke issued a threat, stating that if she ever disclosed the rape incident to anyone, he would sabotage her professional prospects, strip her of all rights to her music and written works, and inflict harm not only on her life but also on her entire family's livelihood.
On the same day, Dr. Luke responded by filing a countersuit against Kesha, vehemently refuting all the allegations made against him. His attorney released a statement to Us magazine, asserting that the lawsuit brought by the pop star was a deliberate attempt to spread false and sensationalized claims as part of a larger agenda.
Kesha decided to drop the lawsuit in August 2016 and shifted her focus towards releasing new music. According to her lawyer, Daniel Petrocelli, Kesha had already submitted a total of 28 new songs to the record label. They expressed her strong desire to release a single and an album as soon as possible to both Sony Music and the label.
Despite this, Dr. Luke persisted in his pursuit of $50 million in damages from Kesha. However, in June 2023, Kesha achieved a significant victory in the ongoing defamation trial. The New York Court of Appeals ruled that Dr. Luke is legally classified as a "public figure." As a result, he now needs to demonstrate that Kesha acted with "actual malice" in her accusations, which is notoriously challenging to prove in defamation cases.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about Kesha and Dr. Luke’s legal battle:
What Did Kesha Accuse Dr. Luke of Doing?
Kesha filed a lawsuit against the producer in October 2014, accusing him of inflicting emotional distress, committing sex-based hate crimes, and engaging in employment discrimination. In her filing, she alleged that Dr. Luke had drugged and raped her in 2005, and had also threatened her and her family's physical safety if she were to disclose the abuse allegations.
Dr. Luke shot back with a defamation lawsuit against Kesha, denying all of her allegations.
Kesha’s Request to Be Released From Sony Contract Is Denied
In February 2016, a New York City judge denied an injunction for Kesha to be released from her Sony Contract with Dr. Luke, despite the arguments put forth by Dr. Luke's lawyers. They claimed that their client had already agreed to let Kesha work with Sony independently, which the judge considered to be a reasonable arrangement.
During the aftermath of the legal loss, Kesha, the singer of "Your Love Is My Drug," was overwhelmed with support from both her fans and fellow celebrities. In response to the lawsuit, Dr. Luke finally addressed the situation publicly, expressing his belief that the accusation was solely driven by financial motives. He shared his thoughts on Twitter during that particular month.
Kesha, on the other hand, wrote a heartfelt letter to her fans expressing her emotions.
“This case has always been about more than just renegotiating my record contract. It has always been about seeking freedom from my abuser. If Sony does the right thing and severs all ties that connect me to my abuser, I would consider working with them.”
A Legal Victory for Dr. Luke
In February 2020, Judge Jennifer G. Schechter of the New York supreme court ruled that Kesha had defamed Dr. Luke by falsely claiming in a text message to Lady Gaga that he had raped Katy Perry. The judge noted that there was no evidence supporting Kesha's claim and emphasized that Katy Perry's unrefuted sworn testimony should be believed. However, it should be clarified that this ruling did not determine whether Dr. Luke sexually assaulted Kesha, as that would be determined in a separate trial.
Kesha was ordered to pay Dr. Luke’s company $374,000 related to late royalty fees.
Dr. Luke and Katy Perry display their awards during the 27th Annual Ascap Pop Music Awards Steve C Mitchell/EPA/Shutterstock
Does the Defamation Trial Have a Date?
In November 2022, a New York judge scheduled a trial date for Dr. Luke's defamation lawsuit against Kesha to take place in July 2023. The legal team representing the music mogul expressed their client's eagerness to proceed with the trial, stating that he is fully prepared and optimistic about the outcome.
Dr. Luke, following a ruling by a prominent New York appeals court in June 2023, has been deemed a "public figure" in a legal sense. This designation necessitates that he must establish Kesha's intent of "actual malice" in making allegations against him.
To meet the demanding legal threshold, famously established by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1964 for The New York Times, Dr. Luke will be required to demonstrate that Kesha either possessed knowledge of the falsehood of her accusations or acted with a reckless disregard for the truth.
