I think we can all remember back to the time in 2010 when Tik Tok was our ringtone and we would jam to it constantly. Remember all the countless parodies videos people made of it on Youtube? It was undeniable that the singer of that song, Kesha Rose Sebert, formerly known as Ke$ha, was going to be a huge star.
Immediately, like what happens to most viral celebrities, Ke$ha began to receive lots of hate. She was commonly known as a "crack whore" to a lot of people. She was titled even worse names than that, names I would prefer not to type. People judged her and branded her as an alcoholic, a careless party girl, and someone on the wrong path of life. Little did we all know what was really going on in Kesha's life.
Behind the facade of the happy party girl, Kesha claims that her music producer, Dr. Luke (Lukasz Gottwald) sexually, physically, emotionally, and verbally abused her ever since she signed with him when she was 18 years old. Kesha has also made claims that Dr. Luke forced her to use drugs and alcohol, ultimately weakening her defenses. There are also claims that Dr. Luke made countless remarks about Kesha's weight, which eventually landed her in a treatment center for an eating disorder.
Is this the kind of life you thought someone as rich and famous as Kesha lived? I didn't either. And now, all Kesha wants is to be free. As of right now, it does not seem like she is going to press charges on Dr. Luke or try to get him arrested. She is not doing anything to harm him - all she wants is to no longer have to be tied to him. Right now, Kesha is stuck in a contract where she is required to make six more albums with her alleged abuser. Now that Dr. Luke has been acting like someone else while abusing Kesha, he's now making the public believe he is the innocent victim as well. After Kesha entered her treatment facility, he stated:
"I give Kesha my utmost support and well wishes for a quick return to health."
But she wouldn't need any well wishes if he hadn't been abusing her for years. While some, of course, don't believe Kesha's claims - it's hard to deny when her mother even gets involved. Her mother, Pebe Sebert, stated to PEOPLE magazine:
"[Dr. Luke] has always been very disrespectful about her weight, he'd say it in certain ways like, "Why don't you try running?" She was doing everything and not getting thin fast enough, and that's when she first became bulimic."
Now, Kesha is fed up. Like any victim of rape or sexual assault, she no longer wants to be around her abuser. As I stated earlier, unfortunately, Kesha is currently trapped in a contract with SONY that requires her to make six more albums at the same company that her abuser works at. Her latest court trial with the State Supreme Court in New York, Kesha was denied to be released from her contract. Court Justice Shirley Kornreich even told Kesha that Sony would receive "irreparable harm" if she did not record the albums. Irreparable harm? Really? Good to know that sexual assault is allowed in your workplace as long as you sign a contract before it happens. Other stars have tweeted their thoughts and condolences to Kesha...
Let's think about this for a moment. Imagine Kesha isn't famous. Imagine she does not work with a music company. Imagine she's your sister, your friend, your neighbor, or your loved one, and imagine she works at an average office. If she told you her boss had raped her - would you force her back to work with him for the sole fact that without her, that boss may lose money? No, you wouldn't. It's a shame that the law, that was made to protect her, is the one victimizing her now. If you don't see why this is such a big deal, you are part of the problem.
So, has Kesha gained anything from coming out with her victim stories? Yes, she has. The #FreeKesha Movement isn't just about getting her out of her contract. The movement is also inspiring people who are also victims to come out and get help. Imagine if just one of her fans is also a domestic violence victim? Maybe Kesha has given them the confidence to tell someone as well.
So Kesha, if you are reading this (unlikely... but maybe),
You're a fighter. You're a warrior. You will get through this. Justice will prevail.