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Kesha claims she could be free of Dr Luke contract if she drops rape allegations

By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 4 April 2016

Kesha has alleged in a new Instagram post that she has been told she could be cut free from her contractual obligations to Dr Luke, but only if she drops all of the allegations she has made against the producer.

As much previously reported, Kesha Sebert accuses Lukasz Gottwald of plying her with drugs and alcohol and raping her as a teenager. He denies all of those allegations, and has sued both the singer and her mother for defamation, saying that the accusations were invented in a bid to force his hand in a contractual dispute.

In the most recent chapter of the legal battle between the two, Sebert was unsuccessful in her bid to secure an injunction allowing her to release music with another producer and label while the former collaborators’ wider litigation continues to go through the motions.

Sebert is signed to Gottwald’s various companies, including his Sony Music label Kemosabe. Arguing against the injunction, the defence claimed that Sony had already offered to allow Sebert to record with another producer and label within the major music group.

Writing on Instagram this weekend, Sebert said: “So, I got offered my freedom IF I were to lie. 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”.

The ‘freedom’ Sebert mentions is presumably the freedom she wants from her contractual obligations to Gottwald, the suggestion being that the singer has been told she can walk away from the producer’s companies, including his Sony label, providing she withdraws her allegations against him.

Meanwhile, the singer’s reference to not lying “ever again” possibly refers to a previous testimony she gave, prior to this dispute, actually defending Gottwald, which he is now using as part of his defence in this case.

Although an unnamed source speaking to Rolling Stone says that a deal similar to that outlined by Sebert this weekend was floated during ongoing negotiations between the singer and the producer – though it’s not clear how formal that proposal was – a spokesperson for Gottwald has nevertheless denied the latest claims.

Said spokesperson instead refers back to the aforementioned offer made in court – that the singer could record with another Sony label – before hitting out at Sebert in possibly blunter terms than in the past.

“Kesha’s Instagram posting is false”, the spokesperson insisted. “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 statement went on: “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”.

And so the dispute continues.