Pop star Kesha (formerly Ke$ha) has been relatively quiet since the release of her excellent 2012 effort Warrior, and for good reason. The artist born Kesha Rose Sebert spent some time in rehab due to an eating disorder, but that's not the worst of her private struggles. She's now come forward and accused producer Dr. Luke of sexual assault, battery and emotional abuse.
TMZ reports Kesha filed a lawsuit citing more than 10 years of abuse from Dr. Luke. These include allegations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
Kesha claims that Luke forced her to do drugs on numerous occasions. In one instance, she alleges that he forced her to snort a substance before getting on a plane, then made sexual advances at her. Another time, after she alleges he forced her to drink with him, he gave her what he called "sober pills." Kesha says she woke up the following afternoon, naked and sore in the producer's bed, with no recollection of what happened.
Earlier this year, Kesha claimed that Dr. Luke was responsible for her eating disorder. She quoted him as calling her "a fat fucking refrigerator" and saying, "You are not that pretty, you are not that talented, you are just lucky to have me."
Further, the lawsuit alleges that Dr. Luke once attacked Kesha while she was visiting his Malibu home. The lawsuit accuses him of "violently thrashing his arms at her."
Kesha is hoping that a judge will grant her freedom from her contract with Dr. Luke and his Kemosabe Records label, with whom she's been signed since she was 18 years old.
Mark Geragos, Kesha's lawyer, released the following statement to TMZ:
This lawsuit is a wholehearted effort by Kesha to regain control of her music career and her personal freedom after suffering for ten years as a victim of mental manipulation, emotional abuse and an instance of sexual assault at the hands of Dr. Luke.
The facts presented in our lawsuit paint a picture of a man who is controlling and willing to commit horrible acts of abuse in an attempt to intimidate an impressionable, talented, young female artist into submission for his personal gain. Kesha is focused on moving her life and her career beyond this terrible time.
Born Lukasz Gottwald, Dr. Luke started as a guitarist on Saturday Night Live for 10 years. Along with Kesha, he's produced hit records for Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, Flo Rida and Britney Spears, among others.
Multiple publications have reached out to Dr. Luke's camp with no reply.
UPDATE: Dr. Luke has now responded via a lawsuit of his own. As TMZ reports, he's fire back by saying that he has had Kesha's lawsuit for months and that the allegations are untrue. His lawyer said it's all part of "a campaign of publishing outrageous and untrue statements," with Luke's lawsuit accusing her of extortion as she tries to get out of her record contract.
TMZ reports Kesha filed a lawsuit citing more than 10 years of abuse from Dr. Luke. These include allegations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
Kesha claims that Luke forced her to do drugs on numerous occasions. In one instance, she alleges that he forced her to snort a substance before getting on a plane, then made sexual advances at her. Another time, after she alleges he forced her to drink with him, he gave her what he called "sober pills." Kesha says she woke up the following afternoon, naked and sore in the producer's bed, with no recollection of what happened.
Earlier this year, Kesha claimed that Dr. Luke was responsible for her eating disorder. She quoted him as calling her "a fat fucking refrigerator" and saying, "You are not that pretty, you are not that talented, you are just lucky to have me."
Further, the lawsuit alleges that Dr. Luke once attacked Kesha while she was visiting his Malibu home. The lawsuit accuses him of "violently thrashing his arms at her."
Kesha is hoping that a judge will grant her freedom from her contract with Dr. Luke and his Kemosabe Records label, with whom she's been signed since she was 18 years old.
Mark Geragos, Kesha's lawyer, released the following statement to TMZ:
This lawsuit is a wholehearted effort by Kesha to regain control of her music career and her personal freedom after suffering for ten years as a victim of mental manipulation, emotional abuse and an instance of sexual assault at the hands of Dr. Luke.
The facts presented in our lawsuit paint a picture of a man who is controlling and willing to commit horrible acts of abuse in an attempt to intimidate an impressionable, talented, young female artist into submission for his personal gain. Kesha is focused on moving her life and her career beyond this terrible time.
Born Lukasz Gottwald, Dr. Luke started as a guitarist on Saturday Night Live for 10 years. Along with Kesha, he's produced hit records for Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, Flo Rida and Britney Spears, among others.
Multiple publications have reached out to Dr. Luke's camp with no reply.
UPDATE: Dr. Luke has now responded via a lawsuit of his own. As TMZ reports, he's fire back by saying that he has had Kesha's lawsuit for months and that the allegations are untrue. His lawyer said it's all part of "a campaign of publishing outrageous and untrue statements," with Luke's lawsuit accusing her of extortion as she tries to get out of her record contract.
