Kesha has made her first full public statement since last week’s court ruling in her ongoing legal battle with her label Sony Music and producer Dr. Luke, who she has accused of being mentally, physically and sexually abusive to her.
Writing to fans on Facebook, Kesha says the protracted legal battle is now “bigger than just about me.”
“All I ever wanted was to be able to make music without being afraid, scared, or abused,” she writes. “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.”
Last week a New York judge denied Kesha’s motion to release her from her contract with Sony Music, whom she alleges pressured her to continue working with Dr. Luke despite allegations that he’d been sexually assaulting her for years. Dr. “Lukasz Gottwald” Luke has publicly denyied the accusations made against him, recently asserting his innocence via Twitter.
In the wake of the court’s ruling the #FreeKesha hashtag began trending on Twitter, with support from artists like Lady Gaga, Iggy Azalea, Lena Dunham and Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino, as well as Taylor Swift who donated US$250K to help Kesha fund her legal battle. More than 200,000 fans have also joined a movement to boycott Sony products until the label releases Kesha from her contract,
“I’m so, so beyond humbled and thankful for all of the support I’ve received from everyone,” writes Kesha. “I can’t believe that so many people all over the world took the time to show me support and love. Other entertainers who knowingly put their own careers at stake by supporting me, I will be forever grateful.”
Kesha says she fears the court’s recent ruling will detract other people who have been abused from coming forward in the future. “That’s a problem,” she writes.
“I don’t want my future daughter – or your daughter – or any person to be afraid that they will be punished if they speak out about being abused, especially if their abuser is in a position of power.”
“I just want to say that if you have been abused, please don’t be afraid to speak out,” she adds. “I know now how this all feels and will forever fight for you the way perfect strangers have been fighting for me.”
Read the full statement here below.
I’m so, so beyond humbled and thankful for all of the support I’ve received from everyone. Words cannot really express the emotions I’ve gone through reading and seeing how amazing everyone has been to me. I can’t believe that so many people all over the world took the time to show me support and love. Other entertainers who knowingly put their own careers at stake by supporting me, I will be forever grateful.
All I ever wanted was to be able to make music without being afraid, scared, or abused. 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.
But at this point, this issue is bigger than just about me.
I think about young girls today – I don’t want my future daughter – or your daughter – or any person to be afraid that they will be punished if they speak out about being abused, especially if their abuser is in a position of power.
Unfortunately I don’t think that my case is giving people who have been abused confidence that they can speak out, and that’s a problem.
But I just want to say that if you have been abused, please don’t be afraid to speak out. There are places that will make you feel safe. There are people who will help you. I for one, will stand beside you and behind you. I know now how this all feels and will forever fight for you the way perfect strangers have been fighting for me.
Yes, I am very much a feminist, but more than that, I am a humanist. I believe in supporting my fellow human beings in being SAFE.
We’re all in this together. You are not alone.
I love you and thank you.
