Kesha: I ‘Got Offered My Freedom’ to Rescind Dr. Luke Rape Claims

In an explosive Instagram post Sunday, Kesha revealed that she was “offered [her] freedom” ”“ most likely the nullification of her contract with Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald ”“ if she rescinded her rape accusations against the producer.

 

“So. I got offered my freedom IF I were to lie,” Kesha wrote in the caption of a selfie. “I would have to APOLOGIZE publicly and say that I never got raped. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS behind closed doors. I will not take back the TRUTH. I would rather let the truth ruin my career than lie for a monster ever again.”

A source close to the case tells Rolling Stone that, during a dialogue between the singer and Gottwald’s legal teams “a couple months ago,” the aforementioned option toward terminating her contract was given to the singer. It’s unclear, however, whether that option occurred during formal settlement talks between the two parties or if the idea was simply proposed to Kesha’s team.

Following Kesha’s Instagram post, a spokesperson for Dr. Luke said in a statement to Rolling Stone, “The Court repeatedly stated Kesha is already free to record without Dr. Luke, and that she had not presented any facts supporting her claims.  That’s because all the evidence – including Kesha’s own videotaped sworn testimony – show her allegations are false. The only thing Kesha is not free to do is to continue to lie about Dr. Luke through publicity stunts and outrageous smears, ignoring the fact that by her own free will she went to work and entered into new contracts with Dr. Luke years after this ‘incident’ supposedly happened. Her goal all along has been solely personal enrichment by seeking to break contracts that brought her success and millions so she can enter into more lucrative ones.  We look forward to our day in court holding Kesha accountable for her lies.”

In a 2014 lawsuit, both Kesha and her mother Bebe Sebert sued Dr. Luke, accusing the producer of sexual, physical, emotional and verbal abuse. Gottwald countersued Sebert, Kesha and her lawyer Mark Geragos with defamation and breach of contracts lawsuits. Kesha’s efforts to have an injunction filed against her Kemosabe contract were denied in February by a New York judge.

Kesha’s legal team, led by Geragos, is also said to be considering bringing on attorney Daniel Petrocelli. A top-tier lawyer at the O’Melveny & Myers law firm, Petrocelli previously represented the family of Ronald Goldman in their successful civil suit against O.J. Simpson. Hiring Petrocelli would cement Kesha’s eagerness to end the legal drama surrounding her career and free herself of Kemosabe. Although that label is a subsidiary of Sony Music, the record company has stated it’s unable to “terminate the contractual relationship between Dr. Luke and Kesha.”

“All I ever wanted was to be able to make music without being afraid, scared, or abused,” Kesha wrote to fans on February 24th. “This case has never been about a renegotiation of my record contract ”” it was never about getting a bigger, or a better, deal. This is about being free from my abuser. I would be willing to work with Sony if they do the right thing and break all ties that bind me to my abuser.”