Dr. Luke: “I Didn’t Rape Kesha And I Have Never Had Sex With Her”
Back in 2014, the pop star Kesha sued pop super-producer Lukasz Sebastian “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, her producer and label boss at Sony’s Kemosabe Records imprint, for sexual assault and emotional abuse. Kesha also sought an injunction to get out of her contract with Sony, claiming that Sony would refuse to promote any music she made without Dr. Luke. On Friday, a New York State Supreme Court judge refused to grant that injunction, effectively forcing Kesha to stay with Sony. Public opinion has come down squarely on Kesha’s side, and many of her fellow pop stars have stood behind her. Taylor Swift has donated $250,000 to Kesha, and even Kelly Clarkson, maybe Dr. Luke’s most famous collaborator, has alluded to the idea that he’s a piece of shit.
Trying 2 not say anything since I can't say anything nice about a person… so this is me not talking about Dr. Luke https://t.co/lLhtUHbmgG
— Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) February 19, 2016
Dr. Luke still hasn’t spoken out on the judge’s verdict or on the #FreeKesha hashtag that’s blown up in the days since. But as Rolling Stone reports, Dr. Luke’s attorney Christine Lepara has issued a statement, saying that Kesha made up her allegations to get out of her contract. She says that Kesha is free to work without Dr. Luke. Here’s the full 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. 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.
In conclusion, fuck this guy, fuck Sony Music, and fuck the New York State Supreme Court.
UPDATE: Dr. Luke has further commented on the situation via Twitter. “It’s a shame that there’s so much speculation out there basing itself on so little information,” he wrote, adding that Kesha’s supporters are “getting behind an allegation only – motivated by money.” He also wrote, “I didn’t rape Kesha and I have never had sex with her. Kesha and I were friends for many years and she was like my little sister.” Read his tweets below.
Until now I haven’t commented on the lawsuits, which should be resolved in court not here on Twitter.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
It’s a shame that there’s so much speculation out there basing itself on so little information.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
The only truly objective person who knows the facts is the judge. The judge did not rule in Kesha's favor on Friday
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
I understand why people without all the information are speaking out. I can appreciate their compassion.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
But lives can get ruined when there’s a rush to judgment before all the facts come out. Look what happened at UVA, Duke etc.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
of course any sane person is against rape and sexual assault but everybody who is commenting is doing so without knowledge or facts.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
They are getting behind an allegation only – motivated by money.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
I didn’t rape Kesha and I have never had sex with her. Kesha and I were friends for many years and she was like my little sister.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
Kesha has denied under oath the horrible allegations now being made against me. Here is the testimony.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
Kesha's lawyer Mark Geragos made another false rape claim against me that was denied by publiscly Lady Gaga
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
Publicly
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
Mark Geragos (kesha's attorney) represented Scott Peterson and Chris Brown. How can he pretend he cares about women's rights?
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
Imagine if you or somebody you loved was publicly accused of a rape you knew they didn't do. Imagine that.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
I have 3 sisters, a daughter, and a son with my girlfriend, and a feminist mom who raised me right.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
Kesha and I made a lot of songs together and it was often good but there were creative differences at times.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
It’s sad that she would turn a contract negotiation into something so horrendous and untrue.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
But I feel confident when this is over the lies will be exposed and the truth will prevail..
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
I want to thank all my friends and family who have supported me throughout this.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016
This is an ongoing legal case so I won't be responding / talking much about this. This should be tried in a court of law.
— Dr. Luke Doctor Luke (@TheDoctorLuke) February 22, 2016