Kesha defamed her alleged rapist Dr Luke by telling Lady Gaga he’d assaulted Katy Perry, judge rules
Kesha told Lady Gaga that Dr Luke had raped Katy Perry, a court heard. (Getty)
Kesha was found to have defamed Dr Luke by telling Lady Gaga he’d raped Katy Perry in a text message.
New York Supreme Court judge Jennifer G Schechter ruled that Kesha “made a false statement to Lady Gaga” about Dr Luke (Lukasz Gottwald) raping Katy Perry, “and that was defamatory.”
“There is no evidence whatsoever that Gottwald raped Katy Perry,” said Schhecter.
“Moreover, publication of a false statement to even one person, here Lady Gaga, is sufficient to impose liability.”
The judge noted that Perry “unequivocally” denied the alleged attack in court and said there is no other evidence “whatsoever” supporting Kesha’s claim.
She added the this ruling did not provide a legal conclusion as to whether Dr Luke assaulted Kesha, with a jury set to decide that in a separate trial.
Kesha ordered to pay Dr Luke $374,000.
The “Raising Hell” singer was also ordered to pay Dr Luke $374,000 in interest on royalty payments that she “withheld for years”, themselves worth $1.3 million.
Her legal team have confirmed that they will “immediately” appeal the ruling.
Dr Luke’s lawyer Christine Lepera gave PinkNews the following statement:
“Kesha abandoned her meritless case against Dr Luke more than three years ago. The only remaining lawsuit is Dr Luke’s case against Kesha for defamation and breach of contract.
“Dr Luke is pursuing this lawsuit to seek recovery for the serious harm Kesha’s false accusations of rape have caused Dr Luke, his family and his business.
“Dr Luke looks forward to the trial of his case where he will prove that Kesha’s other false statements about him were equally false and defamatory.”
Court refused to release Kesha from recording contract.
The ruling is a major setback for Kesha, who has been locked in a legal battle with Dr Luke since October 2014.
The singer filed a claim against the producer accusing him of “sexually, physically, verbally, and emotionally” abusing her “to the point where [she] nearly lost her life”.
Dr Luke vehemently denied these claims, and immediately countersued Kesha, her mother and her management for defamation and breach of contract.
In February 2016 a court ruled that Kesha could not be released from her record contract. Her abuse claims were dismissed in April 2016, with a separate case in LA dropped in August. Dr Luke’s case
The bisexual singer returned to music in 2017 with Rainbow, led by the single “Praying”.
The song’s lyrics reference the depression which Kesha says she has suffered throughout the legal battle, and take clear shots at Dr Luke.
“You brought the flames and you put me through hell,” she sings.
More recently Kesha returned with her fourth album High Road, which like its predecessor was released by the label Dr Luke founded, Kemosabe. The producer left as CEO in 2017.
