She's got a lot to say.
Kesha opens up about her widely publicized sexual assault lawsuit against Dr. Luke in a new tell-all interview with the
New York Times, and it sounds like she wants everyone to know that even though she ended up dropping it, she was still very much abused by the producer. In fact, his insults about her weight drove her to almost starve herself to death!
The "Tik Tok" songstress explained that when she first began to collaborate with Dr. Luke, he backed her into a corner with her image.
"Something that was always told to me is: ‘You’re fun. We’re going to capitalize on that,' I was like, ‘I am fun, but I’m a lot of other things.’ But Luke’s like: ‘No, you’re fun. That’s all you are for your first record,'" she recounted. "To this day, I’ve never released a single that’s a true ballad, and I feel like those are the songs that balance out the perception of you, because you can be a fun girl. You can go and have a crazy night out, but you also, as a human being, have vulnerable emotions. You have love," she added.
Once she found fame, that's when Dr. Luke began to attack her weight and give her massive body image issues, including the eating disorder she sought treatment for shortly before filing her lawsuit in October 2014. She claims that he belittled her in front of people and called her a "fat refrigerator."
"
I was under immense pressure to starve myself. And I tried to and almost killed myself in the process.. As you grow up and you grow awareness, some say ignorance is bliss, and in some ways, it is, but once you realize and you gain knowledge, it’s there, and you can’t deny it. And now I’m very much aware of things that I wasn’t before, and it keeps me more accountable for my actions. I was taking back my strength, and I was taking back my voice, and taking back my power, taking back my body. I’m just taking back my [expletive] life," she fumed.
As far as making new music goes, the chart topper revealed that she made 22 songs over the summer and submitted them to Sony, but they have yet to be released due to pending contract litigation.
What a nightmare! Free Kesha, we want new tunes!
UPDATE: Dr. Luke's lawyers just released the below statement.
"The New York Times Magazine profile piece that ran today unfortunately has many inaccuracies. This article is part of a continuing coordinated press campaign by Kesha to mislead the public, mischaracterize what has transpired over the last two years, and gain unwarranted sympathy. Kesha filed a shock and awe complaint of alleged abuse against Luke Gottwald in 2014 -- for contract negotiation leverage. It backfired. She never intended to prove her claims. She has voluntarily withdrawn her California complaint, after having her counterclaims in New York for alleged abuse dismissed. Nevertheless, she continues to maliciously level false accusations in the press to attack our client.
The reality is that for well over two years, Kesha chose-and it was entirely her choice-not to provide her label with any music. Kesha was always free to move forward with her music, and an album could have been released long ago had she done so. She exiled herself. It was not until months after the denial of her injunction motion - for the first time in June and July 2016--that Kesha started to provide the label with music.
She provided 22 recordings created without any label consultation which were not in compliance with her contract, were in various stages of development, and which Kesha's own team acknowledged needed work. Then, and for the last several months, the label has been in discussions with Kesha and her team to choose the best music, create additional music, and work on the tracks created.
A&R representatives of both Kemosabe and RCA have provided Kesha with detailed feedback in writing and in person on the tracks she provided to help her further develop the material. Kesha has also agreed with Kemosabe and RCA on a list of producers who will work with her on these tracks, a studio has been reserved for these sessions, and a budget for certain work provided.
The creation of an album is a process, however what has clearly been communicated is that the aim is for a release date as early as possible. It is in the economic best interest of the label and Mr. Gottwald to put out a top selling album, and that takes time. In fact, the label suggested an early release of an advance Kesha track. It was Kesha's team who rejected this proposal.
Kesha's claim in the article that she has no ability to earn money outside of touring is completely rebutted by well documented public court records which apparently escaped the article's attention."
