Pop star Kesha sues producer Dr. Luke for sex abuse

LOS ANGELES - Agence France-Presse

Pop star Kesha sued her producer Dr. Luke for allegedly abusing her sexually and emotionally for years. REUTERS Photo

American pop star Kesha on Tuesday sued her producer Dr. Luke for allegedly abusing her sexually and emotionally for years, while threatening to harm her career.
     
Famous for hits such as "TiK ToK" and "We R who we R," Kesha, 27 -- who signed with his Kemosabe label at 18 -- charged the producer, real name Lukasz Gottwald, forced her to take drugs and drink alcohol so that he could abuse her sexually when she was under the influence, court documents show.
      
The singer also said that she remembered waking up naked after Gottwald, 41, forced her to take some pills, but that she could not remember how she got where she awoke.
      
She also alleged that Gottwald's berating of her as overweight caused her bulimia. She has said publicly she went to rehabilitation for the eating disorder.
      
Kesha further alleged that her producer alienated her from her family when she moved to Los Angeles, and threatened to destroy her career if she reported these incidents.
      
Dr. Luke maintains that Kesha is sullying his name in an effort to cut short her contract. The producer's attorney, Christine Lepera, called the charges malicious lies.
      
Kesha's attorney, Mark Geragos, said she is seeking damages, and rejected the producer's counter-suit.
      
"This is just another pathetic and entirely predictable example of Dr. Luke's continued abuse, and a misguided attempt to keep Kesha under his tyrannical control," he argued.        

"This lawsuit has absolutely no basis in fact, the law or reality. Kesha is focused on reclaiming her voice and her freedom. She is determined to move on with her life and her career by putting this dark period behind her."