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Why Dr. Luke’s Lawyers Should Just Let Kesha’s ‘New York Times’ Profile Be

Dr. Luke’s lawyers are really unhappy with Kesha’s New York Times profile — so much so, they released statement further trying to silence Kesha.

The New York Times ran a profile this week entitled “The Exile: Kesha, Interrupted.” In the emotional piece, Kesha opened up about how she felt pressure from Dr. Luke to stay thin and keep up her party girl image which ultimately lead her to check into a clinic for an eating disorder that spiraled out of control. She also mentioned that the only way she can make money is by touring (which shouldn’t be a surprise considering most artists make the majority of their income from touring) and that her new songs were shelved and waiting to be finished and released. She also stuck by her allegations that Dr. Luke drugged and raped her, which really ticked off his lawyers.

Dr. Luke’s lawyers have released a lengthy statement basically shutting down Kesha for the 100th time. Seriously, can you just leave her alone? 

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The lengthy statement read:

“The New York Times Magazine profile piece that ran today unfortunately has many inaccuracies.

This article is part of a continuing coordinated press campaign by Kesha to mislead the public, mischaracterize what has transpired over the last two years, and gain unwarranted sympathy.

Kesha filed a shock and awe complaint of alleged abuse against Luke Gottwald in 2014 ― for contract negotiation leverage. It backfired.

She never intended to prove her claims. She has voluntarily withdrawn her California complaint, after having her counterclaims in New York for alleged abuse dismissed.

Nevertheless, she continues to maliciously level false accusations in the press to attack our client.

The reality is that for well over two years, Kesha chose—and it was entirely her choice—not to provide her label with any music.

Kesha was always free to move forward with her music, and an album could have been released long ago had she done so.

She exiled herself.

It was not until months after the denial of her injunction motion – for the first time in June and July 2016―that Kesha started to provide the label with music.

She provided 22 recordings created without any label consultation which were not in compliance with her contract, were in various stages of development, and which Kesha’s own team acknowledged needed work. Then, and for the last several months, the label has been in discussions with Kesha and her team to choose the best music, create additional music, and work on the tracks created.

A&R representatives of both Kemosabe and RCA have provided Kesha with detailed feedback in writing and in person on the tracks she provided to help her further develop the material. Kesha has also agreed with Kemosabe and RCA on a list of producers who will work with her on these tracks, a studio has been reserved for these sessions, and a budget for certain work provided.

The creation of an album is a process, however what has clearly been communicated is that the aim is for a release date as early as possible. It is in the economic best interest of the label and Mr. Gottwald to put out a top selling album, and that takes time. In fact, the label suggested an early release of an advance Kesha track. It was Kesha’s team who rejected this proposal.

Kesha’s claim in the article that she has no ability to earn money outside of touring is completely rebutted by well documented public court records which apparently escaped the article’s attention.”

What stuck out most about their statement is the line “Kesha exiled herself.” Here’s the thing — victims of abuse do exile themselves (and they’re also acting like Kesha wrote the headline herself). Victims often feel like no one will believe them, so they withdraw. It seems pretty natural that Kesha wouldn’t want to release music that her abuser would profit from. More so, it would be pretty painful for her to release something under her abuser’s label. Imagine every single time you read about your work, you had to read about how your abuser helped make it. It would be re-traumatizing. She’d have to relive her abuse over and over again were she to release the music she was so freely allowed to release. No thanks. 

Another thing: a profile in a magazine is simply based on the personal truth of the person being interviewed. It is their personal story. It is how they view the world, and Kesha has stood by everything she’s said about Dr. Luke’s abusive behavior. She deserves to tell her story the same way Dr. Luke could say whatever he wanted if The New York Times chose to profile him (but they haven’t). 

Dr. Luke’s lawyers are angry about Kesha speaking about their client, but they seem so keen on speaking for Kesha. They allege she filed a complaint to gain “unwarranted sympathy” and that she never “intended to prove her claims.” These lawyers are not Kesha. They are not inside of her brain, so they can’t really say what her intentions are.

The lawyers use the fact that Kesha withdrew her complaint as an admission of lying, but that’s not necessarily the case. Facing court and having to incessantly talk about and prove that you’ve been abused is emotionally taxing and re-traumatizing. Maybe Kesha was sick of being of in court, maybe she knew she wouldn’t win, or maybe she just needed a break from the trauma. Withdrawing a complaint is not an retraction of her original statements. A retraction of her original statements would be a retraction of her original statements.

It feels very much like Dr. Luke’s camp is speaking for Kesha in the same hypocritical way they say Kesha is speaking for Dr. Luke. Also, when has embroiling yourself in a messy lawsuit for sympathy ever provided any positive outcome? Please, we would like receipts on this.

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It’s clear that Kasha’s lawsuit will always be a case of he-said-she-said. Most abuse cases are, so can Dr. Luke just leave her alone already? Let her make music that isn’t pulled under a fine-toothed comb by 100 different people who are already biased because they’re mad about the lawsuit. Kesha is allowed to be angry that her 20-something tracks have not been approved by a label — whether it was because they weren’t good songs or because of literally anything else. She’s a human. She’s a real person. Let her do her thing because, Dr. Luke, you’re already doing yours.

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