In October of 2014, Kesha revealed that her music producer Dr. Luke began sexually, physically, verbally, and emotionally abusing her for a nearly a decade. Earlier this morning, a judge denied Kesha's request to temporarily halt her contract with Sony Records and free her from working under Dr. Luke.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich ruled in court that granting Kesha's request of temporary freedom would undermine the New York's laws that govern contracts and that the court cannot do that.
To make a long story short, and to be crystal clear about what this means:
Kesha's request of being able to create and produce her own music while feeling safe and free from her abuser/rapist was denied. She will still have to work under Sony and produce six more albums. In the judge's eyes, Dr. Luke and Sony have invested too much money in Kesha for her to be granted freedom.
But if you'll recall, Zayn Malik was able to leave the contract under Sony's Syco and sign under a different producer. He was unhappy as a member One Direction and was granted the opportunity to create and produce music on his own terms.
To make sure we're on the same page here, let's recap: Kesha is being FORCED to work under a man who raped and abused her. Under a man who belittled her. Under a man who is not being criminally charged, and who instead is being valued because he makes Sony so much money. Who cares about Kesha's happiness? Who cares about her health? Apparently not Sony.
I have seen people argue that because there is no "proof" Dr. Luke raped and mistreated Kesha, that he should not be punished. But the lack of "proof" of the abuse does not mean the abuse did not occur. The lack of proof should not mean that the rest of Kesha's life will be negatively affected.
This is more than merely gender discrimination and inequality. This is Sony defending a rapist and abuser, standing up for the wrong party.
We must band together and boycott Sony's money-hungry, abusive company. We must stand with Kesha.
