Topline
Kesha and music producer Lukasz Gottwald, also known as Dr. Luke, announced in a joint statement posted to Instagram on Thursday they have settled their lengthy 2014 defamation lawsuit—weeks before a trial was set to begin.
Kesha and Dr. Luke have settled a years-long defamation suit that was highly publicized. (AP Photo)
Key Facts
Gottwald filed the now-resolved lawsuit in 2014 as a countersuit after Kesha accused the singer-songwriter of drugging and raping her at a party in 2005.
“Only god knows what happened that night,” Kesha wrote in the Instagram post Thursday, adding she wished peace for the parties involved in the litigation and expressing her anticipation of “closing the door” on the years of highly-publicized litigation that hindered her career.
Gottwald denied the accusations levied against him in the post, as he did years prior, saying he “vigorously fought” to clear his name for nearly 10 years before concluding with well wishes for Kesha.
Prior to the canceled trial, a judge concluded Gottwald would be considered a “limited public figure,” requiring him to prove with evidence that Kesha acted with actual malice.
Key Background
The association between Kesha and Gottwald started in 2005, when at the age of 18, Kesha was signed to Gottwald’s record label Kemosabe Records. The original contract obligated Kesha to produce six albums for the label before she could be released. Kesha sought to be released from the agreement in 2014 through a lawsuit alleging Gottwald raped her after signing the record agreement. Not long after, Gottwald brought forth a countersuit alleging that statements made by the singer and her agents regarding sexual assault were defamatory. The suit dragged on for years and became highly publicized. In 2016, Gottwald posted a long string of tweets defending himself. As the years went by, the likes of Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato and Lady Gaga came to Kesha’s defense, with Swift donating $250,000 to Kesha to help with legal costs. Kesha produced multiple albums under Gottwald’s label in the years following the defamation lawsuit and stayed quiet on the subject in later interviews as to not jeopardize her legal battles.
Tangent
Kesha released an album this March titled Gag Order—a record focusing on the personal struggles and legal battles the singer has endured for years. It is the final album under Gottwald’s music label Kemosabe.
Further Reading
Kesha and Dr. Luke Settle Defamation Lawsuit: ‘Only God Knows What Happened That Night’ (Rolling Stone)
The Complete History of Kesha’s Legal Fight Against Dr. Luke (Vulture)
