Kesha Loses Dr. Luke’s Defamation Case Against Her, Ordered To Pay Over $373,000

Kesha, Dr. Luke

Kesha Loses Dr. Luke’s Defamation Case Against Her, Ordered To Pay Over $373,000

Kesha’s claims against Dr. Luke will cost her six figures.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Schecter has ordered the singer to pay more than $373,000 in Dr. Luke’s defamation lawsuit against her.

Dr. Luke took legal action against Kesha after she text Lady Gaga back in 2016, alleging that Dr. Luke sexually assaulted fellow pop singer Katy Perry.

Lady Gaga

Katy Perry

Interestingly enough, Katy Perry denied that Dr. Luke ever assaulted her during a 2017 deposition. Considering Katy Perry’s denial, Judge Schecter said Kesha

“made a false statement to Lady Gaga about Gottwald that was defamatory per se.”

The judge added,

“There is no evidence whatsoever that [Dr. Luke] raped Katy Perry. Moreover, publication of a false statement to even one person, here Lady Gaga, is sufficient to impose liability,” 

She also disagreed with Kesha’s lawyers that because Dr. Luke is a “public figure” the standards of him claiming defamation should be higher. But the judge said that other than in the music industry, Dr. Luke is

“certainly is not a ‘general public figure'”.

And that he’s

“never been a household name or achieved general pervasive fame and notoriety in the community.” 

So, the

 “actual malice standard is inapplicable.”

Kesha has to pay the $373,671.88 as it was determined she owes Dr. Luke’s record company, KMI, late payments for royalty earnings that Kesha kept from KMI and broke the agreement in their contract.

Dr. Luke’s lawyer told Entertainment Tonight in a statement,

“Dr. Luke is pursuing this lawsuit to seek recovery for the serious harm Kesha’s false accusations of rape have caused Dr. Luke, his family and his business. Today’s important decision by the Court in Dr. Luke’s lawsuit brings him closer to the justice that he seeks.”

“First, the Court has now ruled that Kesha made a false and defamatory accusation about Dr. Luke when she baselessly claimed that he raped Katy Perry. Second, the Court rejected Kesha’s attempts to invoke legal technicalities to avoid responsibility for her statements.  And third, the Court also correctly held that Kesha breached her contract with Dr. Luke’s company. Dr. Luke looks forward to the trial of his case where he will prove that Kesha’s other false statements about him were equally false and defamatory.”

Still, Kesha’s team said they not only disagree with the ruling, but

“plan to immediately appeal.”

What do you think about the ruling? Tell us in the comments.