By: Maggie Attridge

     On Friday February 19th, The Supreme Court of New York announced that singer Kesha Rose Sebert would have to finish out her contract with her record company, Kemosabe Records.

     Kesha was attempting to nullify her contract with the company because it made her work with producer Lukasz Gottwald, who Kesha has claimed have used drugs and alcohol to emotionally and sexually abuse her. Late in 2014, Kesha and her lawyers decided to sue Gottwald, known to many as “Dr. Luke”.

     Kesha’s lawyers released an initial statement saying that, “For the past 10 years, Dr. Luke has sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally abused Ms. Sebert to the point where Ms. Sebert nearly lost her life…[he] abused Ms. Sebert in order to destroy her self-confidence, self-image, and self-worth so that he could maintain complete control over her life and career.”

     Dr. Luke has refuted these claims many times, including on Twitter. He put out a statement right after the verdict was publicized that said, “I didn’t rape Kesha and I have never had sex with her. Kesha and I were friends for many years and she was like my little sister.” Dr. Luke has also defended himself later on the social media site saying, “Imagine if you or somebody you loved was publicly accused of a rape you knew they didn’t do. Imagine that…I have 3 sisters, a daughter, and a son with my girlfriend, and a feminist mom who raised me right… “.

     Kesha initially put out a statement on social media on Twitter said, “thank you for all the support in my legal case animals. i love all of you. it’s meant the world to me. xoxo,” along with a pictures with the saying, “Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.”

     Many celebrities have shown incredible support for Kesha, with many taking to social media to show that support. Lena Dunham came out and supported Kesha, writing a public essay about her situation and advocating for abuse survivors. Actresses Anne Hathaway and Reese Witherspoon came out and supported Kesha by sharing Dunham’s essay. Also, singers Adele and Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato. Ariana Grande, and Lorde took to social media to express their support, with Swift promising $250,000 to help Kesha with legal fees.

     This legal case has opened the door for talk about sexual abuse in the workplace for women and men. Kesha is hoping her case has given other women courage to come out and tell their story. In the United States, on average, one in five women have been sexually harassed or abused in their lifetime, and in eight out of ten cases where the victim knew the perpetrator, according to the Centers for Disease Control.