Kesha and Dr. Luke settle defamation lawsuit
Kesha and Dr. Luke’s nearly 10-year bicoastal legal battle is over.
The “Tik Tok” singer and the renowned producer said they reached a “resolution” Thursday in the defamation lawsuit Luke filed against Kesha after she claimed he “sexually, physically, verbally, and emotionally abused [her] to the point where [she] nearly lost her life” in 2005.
“Only God knows what happened that night,” Kesha, 36, wrote in her part of the joint statement posted to social media. “As I always said, I cannot recount everything that happened. I am looking forward to closing the door on this chapter of my life and beginning a new one. I wish nothing but peace to all parties involved.”
New York’s highest state court awarded Kesha a key victory in the case earlier this month, ruling that Luke was a “public figure,” which would make his case harder to prove. A trial was set to begin July 19.
In her own lawsuit, filed in 2014, the “Praying” singer claimed Luke had drugged and raped her at a party in 2005 and emotionally tormented her for years afterward.
Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, denied the allegations and accused her of making them up to get out of her recording contract.
His lawyer, Christine Lepera, told The Post: “Kesha’s voluntary public statement clears Luke’s name as it proves she had no ground to accuse him of any wrongdoing.”
Luke, 49, added in his Instagram statement Thursday: “While I appreciate Kesha again acknowledging that she cannot recount what happened that night in 2005. I am absolutely certain that nothing happened. I never drugged or assaulted her and would never do that to anyone.”
“For the sake of my family, I have vigorously fought to clear my name for nearly 10 years. It is time for me to put this difficult matter behind me and move on with my life. I wish Kesha well,” he added.
Kesha and Luke both disabled comments on their Instagram posts about the settlement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
A judge initially denied Kesha a court injunction that would have allowed her to break her record contract with Kemosabe Records, a label founded by Luke and owned by Sony Music Entertainment.
This meant she couldn’t release new music without Sony or Luke while the litigation proceeded through the courts.
Fans started the #FreeKesha movement online and outside of courthouses.
Kesha released her album “Rainbow” — which was largely about her relationship with Luke — under Kemosabe in August 2017. Luke’s term as chief executive of the label had expired that March.
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