Kesha and Dr. Luke Settle Defamation Lawsuit After 10-Year Legal Battle
Dr. Luke countersued the singer for defamation in 2014.
Kesha and Dr. Luke have reached a settlement in their lengthy legal battle over the producer’s alleged mistreatment of the singer. In 2014, Kesha filed a lawsuit against Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, accusing him of sexual assault, battery and harassment in 2005. Kesha also requested to have her label contract with Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records terminated.
Dr. Luke responded the same year with a suit of his own, denying the allegations and accusing Kesha of defamation against himself. Kesha’s lawsuit was dropped in 2016 in order to allow her to pursue legal action in New York. Unable to void her contract, she went on to release her album Rainbow in 2017 via RCA Records and Kemosabe.
The latter lawsuit has remained ongoing until Thursday, June 22. Kesha and Dr. Luke have announced they’ve settled the suit and released a joint statement.
“Only God knows what happened that night,” Kesha said in her statement. “As I have 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.”
“While I appreciate Kesha again acknowledging that she cannot recount what happened that night in 2005,” Dr. Luke said. “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.”
The exact terms of the settlement weren’t revealed.
In other music news, Central Cee has signed a rumored $25 million USD deal with Columbia Records.
