Pop star Kesha has appealed the court decision handed down last month that denied her request to be freed from her recording contract with Sony and producer Dr. Luke. The singer's lawyers filed paperwork today (March 21) asking the New York court system to review the case.
As Billboard reports, the appeal seeks to reverse last month's decision, which ruled that Kesha (full name Kesha Rose Sebert) could not get out of her contract, despite her accusing pop producer Dr. Luke (a.k.a. Lukasz Gottwald) of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
At the time, it had been argued by the producer and his lawyers that Kesha's motives were financial, while New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich had said, "You're asking the court to decimate a contract that was heavily negotiated and typical for the industry."
Kesha's appeal denies the former while criticizing the decision to not be allowed to distance her from her accused abuser, likening this to slavery.
"First, the Court erred in basing its decision on its finding that Kesha could record without interference from Gottwald," the appeal reads. "Although it recognized that 'slavery was done away with a long time ago' and that '[y]ou can't force someone to work . . . in a situation in which they don't want to work,' the Court's ruling requiring Kesha to work for Gottwald's companies, purportedly without his involvement, does just that."
Dr. Luke denied Kesha's allegations over Twitter and through his lawyers. A rumour surfaced that Sony had severed its working relationship with the producer, but his lawyer denied the reports.
As Billboard reports, the appeal seeks to reverse last month's decision, which ruled that Kesha (full name Kesha Rose Sebert) could not get out of her contract, despite her accusing pop producer Dr. Luke (a.k.a. Lukasz Gottwald) of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
At the time, it had been argued by the producer and his lawyers that Kesha's motives were financial, while New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich had said, "You're asking the court to decimate a contract that was heavily negotiated and typical for the industry."
Kesha's appeal denies the former while criticizing the decision to not be allowed to distance her from her accused abuser, likening this to slavery.
"First, the Court erred in basing its decision on its finding that Kesha could record without interference from Gottwald," the appeal reads. "Although it recognized that 'slavery was done away with a long time ago' and that '[y]ou can't force someone to work . . . in a situation in which they don't want to work,' the Court's ruling requiring Kesha to work for Gottwald's companies, purportedly without his involvement, does just that."
Dr. Luke denied Kesha's allegations over Twitter and through his lawyers. A rumour surfaced that Sony had severed its working relationship with the producer, but his lawyer denied the reports.