A New York state judge threw out Kesha's case to be freed from her contract with Sony and her producer, Dr. Luke, who she claims drugged and raped her, on Wednesday, dismissing a handful of the pop star's claims against the producer due to lack of jurisdiction and physical evidence. The suit's dismissal comes after the same judge denied Kesha a preliminary injunction against Dr. Luke in February.
New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Werner Kornreich ruled that Kesha's allegations that Dr. Luke sexually assaulted her and inflicted emotional abuse did not amount to a hate crime, as the singer alleged. "Although [Dr. Luke's] alleged actions were directed to Kesha, who is female [...] Every rape is not a gender-motivated hate crime," Kornreich said in the ruling.
The news comes days after Kesha claimed that Sony promised to release her from her contract if she were to publicly recant her rape allegations against Dr. Luke. Dr. Luke has denied all the allegations against him, and claims that Kesha's contract allows her to record with other producers.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Israel Defense Forces' manpower problemThe Explainer Israeli military's shortage of up to 12,000 troops results in call-up for tens of thousands of reservists
-
Quiz of The Week: 16 – 22 AugustQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
Can Soho House get its edge back?Talking Point The private members' club has lost its exclusive appeal – but a £2 billion buy-out could offer a fresh start
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, StalloneSpeed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's viewSpeed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talkSpeed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
A long weekend in ZürichThe Week Recommends The vibrant Swiss city is far more than just a banking hub
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposesspeed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wifespeed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
