Kesha sobbed in a Manhattan courtroom as a judge denied her request for an injunction that would release her from her contract with super-producer Dr. Luke, who she claims abused her for most of her career. N.Y. Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich ruled in favor of Sony and Lukas Gottwald on Feb. 19.
Heartbroken doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about Kesha's situation. Throughout an almost two-year legal battle, Kesha has been resilient. "Don't worry, no one will ever shut me up," Kesha told fans at a secret concert in December as she sang her heart out on psychedelic rock renditions of her biggest hits. Through all of her struggles in recent years, whether it was her eating disorder or her lawsuit against Dr. Luke, Kesha has been and is still being extraordinarily brave. Seeing her in tears in the Manhattan Supreme Court was absolutely devastating.
Based on the results of Friday's court decision, Kesha's situation is yet another example that shows why so many sexual assaults go unreported. Because even after claiming that working with Gottwald would be dangerously unhealthy, Kesha still works for him. Because a New York judge cared more about words on a piece of paper than a woman who just wants to get her life back and keep making music. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, about 68 percent of sexual assaults may never be reported to police.
Most of my friends know Kesha as the glitter-loving, free-spirited party girl who brushes her teeth with a bottle of jack. But the pop star, who we all love for her care-free attitude and message of self-love, was in tears over the future of her music career. Now that news of the court battle has been trending, almost everyone I know is talking about it. And I'm glad. We need to be talking about it.
When a famous pop musician does not get the justice she deserves, what does that say for other survivors? The ones who don't have millions of fans supporting them? Too often, coming forward with one's story requires telling it over and over again, recounting a traumatic incident several times and often getting nothing in return.
"I have nothing left to hide," Kesha wrote on Instagram. "I did this because the truth was eating away my soul and killing me from the inside. This is not just for me. This is for every woman, every human who has ever been abused.
Although Sony said they would allow Kesha to work with other producers, this still does not give Kesha the opportunity to distance herself from Gottwald. According to Kesha, Sony enabled the singer and producer's emotionally abusive relationship. All Kesha wanted was to be able to record an album on another record label and no longer be affiliated with Gottwald.
Whether you're a fan of Kesha or not, we need to listen when survivors come forward about abusive experiences. When someone comes forward despite the risk of scrutiny or even jeopardizing their own career, they should be taken seriously. I'm standing with Kesha. Are you?
