Judge rules Kesha must honor Sony contract despite her claim that producer raped her

Judge states the man who allegedly raped Kesha must continue to work for her.
(Image credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Delete Blood Cancer DKMS)

Kesha was denied a request for a preliminary injunction that would have temporarily nullified her contract with Sony Records, the New York Daily News reports. The singer of hits "Tik Tok" and "Die Young," Kesha, 28, has said she is too afraid to work with her producer, Dr. Luke, as she alleges he raped her when she was 18.

Dr. Luke, whose real name is Luke Gottwald, is a superstar in the business and was never formally charged. Kesha claims Sony won't promote her music if she works with a different producer.

When the judge made the announcement of the denied injunction, Kesha reportedly broke down in tears. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich said that Sony would suffer irreparable harm if Kesha were not to honor her contract. Kesha is required to make six more albums for the company.

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While Sony has reportedly said that Kesha can work with another producer, Kesha's lawyer argued that the promise was "illusory" because if Kesha were to make records with someone else, they wouldn't be promoted. The lawyer further argued that Dr. Luke was more valuable to the company than Kesha. The judge maintained that granting Kesha's request would violate New York laws concerning contracts.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.