Taylor Swift has donated $250,000 to “help with the financial needs” of the singer Kesha following a court’s adverse ruling in the preliminary hearing of her case against Dr Luke.
Kesha has received an an outpouring of support after her request to be released from a recording contract with Dr Luke – who she claims physically and sexually assaulted her – was denied in New York last Friday.
The likes of Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Lorde have voiced their shock and backing for the singer following the outcome, while many Kesha fans gathered outside the New York state supreme court under the banner of the #FreeKesha movement. Grammy winner Taylor Swift, instead, provided financial aid: “In a show of support, Taylor Swift has donated $250,000 to Kesha to help with any of her financial needs during this trying time,” a spokesperson confirmed.
There are people all over the world who love you @KeshaRose. And I can say truly I am in awe of your bravery.
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) February 19, 2016
In 2014, Kesha – AKA Kesha Rose Sebert – filed a lawsuit against songwriter and producer Dr Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, alleging that he abused her when she was 18, soon after she signed a contract with him in 2005. She claimed that Gottwald gave her drugs and alcohol and sexually assaulted her.
Gottwald countersued, claiming the allegations were part of a “campaign of publishing outrageous and untrue statements”, before Justice Shirley Kornreich denied Kesha’s motion for preliminary injunction. She claimed that “there has been no showing of irreparable harm”, BuzzFeed reported, and cited a lack of medical evidence such as hospital records to corroborate the assault allegations.
Kesha will now remain under contract with Gottwald’s Kemosabe Records, which is owned by Sony, pending the outcome of the full case.
