Kesha, a pop artist, and Dr. Luke, a record producer, finally resolved their almost decade-long legal battle on Thursday, June 22, with the singer claiming that "only God knows what happened that night."
Kesha had accused Dr. Luke of drugging and sexually assaulting her, while the record producer claimed she made up the allegations and defamed him. Dr. Luke insisted that he had never drugged or attacked her and that nothing had ever happened.
Settlement Before Trial
Both Kesha and Dr. Luke announced on Instagram that they had reached a resolution, although neither party divulged the specifics of the deal.
Kesha said that she wished peace for all parties involved, to which Dr. Luke responded by wishing her well, too. He added that he was ready to put this issue behind him after spending so much time and energy trying to clear his good reputation.
According to AP News, the settlement prevents the summer trial that had been slated to address the charges that have become a #MeToo cause for Kesha's supporters and have implicated a roster of music industry celebrities. Many well-known musicians have contributed to the case by testifying or submitting sworn declarations, including Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Pink, Avril Lavigne, Adam Levine, and Taio Cruz.
Since 2014, the multiplatinum-selling singer and the Grammy-nominated producer have been engaged in a bitter legal battle that has cast a shadow over both of their careers.
Long-Running Bitter Legal Battle
Ke$ha, as she was formerly known, is a singer best known for a string of just-try-to-stop-me party songs that began with 2009's TiK ToK. Dr. Luke, the founder of the record company to which an 18-year-old Kesha Rose Sebert from Nashville was signed, was responsible for those early smashes.
Lukasz Gottwald, Dr. Luke's birth name, has created hits for Perry, Lavigne, Flo Rida, and many more. Dr. Luke has received the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers' pop songwriter of the Year award many times, in addition to receiving multiple Grammy nominations.
In 2014, Kesha filed a lawsuit against him, claiming he had raped and drugged her nine years prior and had been mentally abusive to her throughout their professional relationship, as reported by the Washington Post. She said he constantly badgered her about her appearance, made fun of her voice, and dominated her professional life.
Kesha claims that the trauma triggered a relapse of her eating condition, forcing her to spend two months at a treatment center in 2014.
Dr. Luke, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, has fired back by suing Kesha. He believes that in an effort to discredit him and escape her recording contract, she made "completely untrue and deeply hurtful" statements.
