Lawsuits

Taylor Swift supports Kesha with $250,000 donation

Maeve McDermott
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Taylor Swift supports Kesha with $250k donation
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Taylor Swift supports Kesha with $250k donation

Kesha just gained another major supporter in her current legal battles against her producer Dr. Luke: Taylor Swift.

"In a show of support, Taylor Swift has donated $250,000 to Kesha to help with any of her financial needs during this trying time," said Tree Paine, Swift's spokesperson, in a statement to USA TODAY.

On Friday, a New York judge ruled against releasing Kesha Rose Sebert from her record contract with Dr. Luke (real name: Lukasz Gottwald), after she sued him in 2014 for ongoing abuse, including drugging and raping her a decade ago.

While other stars like Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande have spoken out in support of Kesha, Swift is the first of Kesha's high-profile peers to announce a monetary donation.

Lady Gaga tweet

Demi Lovato tweet

Ariana Grande tweet

Lorde tweet

Taylor Swift
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New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich denied Kesha's preliminary injunction that would release her from her contract and allow her to record other music.

"You're asking the court to decimate a contract that was heavily negotiated and typical for the industry," Kornreich told Kesha's attorney Mark Geragos Friday after hearing arguments that Dr. Luke had invested $60 million in the singer's career.

Kesha broke her silence following the ruling with a tweet thanking her supporters.

Kesha tweet

In her lawsuit filed in October 2014, Kesha claims Dr. Luke "sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally abused" her for nearly 10 years, starting at age 18 when she signed on with his Sony-subsidiary label, Kemosabe Records in 2005.