Emoji created by Amber Rose
The #FreeKesha movement is a trend that began after Kesha begun her lawsuit against her former producer, Dr. Luke, whom she accused of sexual assault and battery in 2014.
Background[]
On February 16, 2016, Kesha sought out a preliminary injunction which would release her from her contract with Dr. Luke and allow her to make music again. This was denied by the judge and a photo of Kesha breaking down in court was spread around social media. The hashtag FreeKesha trended online to urge the court to release Kesha from her contract and allow her to release music again. It was used by thousands of fans as well as many celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Rowan Blanchard, Rose McGowan, Bea Miller, Mara Wilson, Jack Antonoff, Sara Bareilles, Adam Lambert, Demi Lovato, and more.
A banner hung in front of Sony headquarters.
In February 2022, the hashtag started trending again worldwide after German singer, Kim Petras, released her EP Slut Pop, which was produced and co-written entirely by Dr. Luke.[1] Petras has previously been criticized for her close involvement with Dr. Luke. With the release of Petras' EP, the singer faced backlash for a lyric referencing Lady Gaga, who defended Kesha when she was deposed in the lawsuit and had a breakdown during it. Ben Abraham, who worked with Kesha on "Praying", tweeted out that she was still signed to Dr. Luke and he still controls her releases.[2] #FreeKesha started trending for several days in support of Kesha as she is currently being sued by Dr. Luke for defamation. On two nights, two different #FreeKesha banners were hung in front of the Sony headquarters, the second banner also including a MuteDrLuke hashtag.
In November 2022, the hashtag trended once again after Petras defended her decision to work with Dr. Luke through now deleted tweets in which she stated she had "nothing to say or be ashamed of at all".[3][4] Shortly after, signs reading "Free Kesha" and "Drop Dr. Luke" were placed outside of Sony headquarters and Republic Records respectively.[5][6] The hashtag trended again in April 2023, ahead of the Oral Arguments of Kesha's appeals at the Court of Appeals on April 18, 2023.[7] In May 2023, the hashtag trended after the release of Kesha's album Gag Order.[8] A sign reading "Free Kesha" was also placed outside of the Sony Music building, alongside a poster of the Gag Order album cover.[9]
On June 22, 2023, the hashtag trended alongside #KeshaIsFree following a joint statement announcing that Kesha and Dr. Luke had settled their lawsuit.[10][11]
List of Supporters[]
After Kesha was denied her preliminary injunction, many celebrities spoke out in support of Kesha and the movement including:
- Abigail Breslin[12]
- Adam Lambert[13]
- Adele[14]
- Amber Rose[15]
- Andra Day[16]
- Anne Hathaway[17]
- Ariana Grande[18]
- Bebe Rexha
- Camila Cabello[19]
- Cyndi Lauper[20]
- Dan Reynolds[21]
- Demi Lovato[22]
- Fiona Apple[23]
- Frankie Grande[24]
- HAIM[25]
- Halsey[26][27]
- Iggy Azalea[28]
- Jack Antonoff[29]
- Janelle Monáe[30][31]
- Kelly Clarkson[32][33][34]
- Lady Gaga[35][36][37]
- Lauren Jauregui[38]
- Lorde
- Madison Beer[39][40]
- Mara Wilson[41][42]
- MARINA[43][44]
- Melanie Martinez
- Miley Cyrus[45]
- Sam Smith[46][47]
- Sara Bareilles[48][49]
- Snoop Dogg
- Taylor Swift[50]
- Troye Sivan
- Zedd[51]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kim-petras-collabs-with-dr-luke-slut-pop-1299208/
- ↑ https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/02/16/kesha-dr-luke-legal-fight-rape/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/popbase/status/1596987404065595392
- ↑ https://www.nylon.com/life/kim-petras-dr-luke-free-kesha
- ↑ https://twitter.com/keshalegion/status/1597824235551891456
- ↑ https://twitter.com/keshalegion/status/1597827893631258627
- ↑ https://twitter.com/keshadiscord/status/1648156750992769025
- ↑ https://twitter.com/keshalegion/status/1659761675418083328
- ↑ https://twitter.com/thepoptingz/status/1660117741024468992
- ↑ https://twitter.com/conjuredkesha/status/1672050342085943298
- ↑ https://twitter.com/keshalegion/status/1671983373907267584
- ↑ https://x.com/yoabbaabba/status/1811219641085436104?t=XXHw81HVkfXxmAh9LwRP6g&s=19
- ↑ https://twitter.com/adamlambert/status/701213216651608064
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/adele-offers-her-public-support-to-kesha-6889479/
- ↑ https://www.nylon.com/articles/amber-rose-bill-cosby-kesha-muvamoji-app/amp
- ↑ https://twitter.com/andradaymusic/status/957828110640078848
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/anne-hathaway-i-stand-with-kesha-dr-luke-6889384/amp/
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/ariana-grande-kesha-radio-interview-7127450/amp/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/camila_cabello/status/958067014597300224
- ↑ https://people.com/music/cyndi-lauper-kesha-grammys-sexual-assault-we-all-have-stories/
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/imagine-dragons-dan-reynolds-dr-luke-boycott-kesha-897890/amp/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/ddlovato/status/701134345545748480
- ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/fiona-apple-kesha-margaret-cho-support-dr-luke-instagram-photo-6882892/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/frankiejgrande/status/1648422225345937409
- ↑ https://twitter.com/haimtheband/status/701594564436447232
- ↑ https://twitter.com/halsey/status/700763700811030528
- ↑ https://twitter.com/heartofsmine/status/700842546252140545
- ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/kesha-23-1194656
- ↑ https://www.vulture.com/2016/02/jack-antonoff-offers-to-produce-for-kesha.html
- ↑ https://deadline.com/2018/01/janelle-monae-calls-for-times-up-on-music-industry-abuse-in-support-of-dramatic-kesha-performance-1202272286/amp/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/janellemonae/status/700886928397365248
- ↑ https://twitter.com/kellyclarkson/status/700804809499271168
- ↑ https://people.com/celebrity/kelly-clarkson-says-she-was-blackmailed-into-working-with-dr-luke/
- ↑ https://www.wonderwall.com/news/kelly-clarkson-calls-dr-luke-bully-demeaning-and-sleazy-kesha-lawsuit-deposition-3016135.article
- ↑ https://twitter.com/ladygaga/status/702633817958256640
- ↑ https://twitter.com/ladygaga/status/704075569852518402
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lady-gaga-kesha-unsealed-deposition-dr-luke-defamation-lawsuit-786404/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/laurenjauregui/status/700888369526493185
- ↑ https://twitter.com/madisonbeer/status/700789936794906624
- ↑ https://twitter.com/madisonbeer/status/700789391594123264
- ↑ https://twitter.com/marawilson/status/700733673163898881
- ↑ https://twitter.com/marawilson/status/700744540307779585
- ↑ https://twitter.com/marinadiamandis/status/707319175535054848
- ↑ https://twitter.com/marinadiamandis/status/707321815530651650
- ↑ https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/miley-cyrus-angry-over-keshas-court-ruling/amp_articleshow/51118894.cms
- ↑ https://www.twitter.com/samsmith/status/702004331155828736
- ↑ https://www.twitter.com/samsmith/status/702003675992952832
- ↑ https://twitter.com/sarabareilles/status/700818010869776384
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BC-dS9ZjGH_/
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-donates-250000-to-kesha-after-court-ruling-123036/
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-keshas-triumphant-return-on-zedds-true-colors-94854/amp/