TW: This article contains mentions of sexual abuse allegations.
When Katy Perry announced that she would be releasing her seventh album - and teased her first single of 2024: Woman’s World - naturally she hoped that there would be a hugely positive reaction. After all, it’s been four years since the singer released her sixth album: Smile.
Instead Katy Perry has found herself and her unreleased album at the centre of some controversy. That’s because one of the names said to be credited on the upcoming album is music producer Dr. Luke who has been part of a series of lawsuits between him and the singer Kesha.
What has Kesha accused Dr Luke of?
In October 2014 Kesha – whose real name is Kesha Rose Sebert – filed a civil suit against Dr Luke aka Lukasz Sebastian Gottwalk for infliction of emotional distress, sex-based crimes and employment discrimination.
In response, Dr Luke – who denies all of the allegations against him - filed a lawsuit against Kesha and her mother Rosemary Patricia Sebert for defamation and breach of contract.
Kesha then counter-claimed against Dr Luke’s defamation law suit alleging that he had ‘sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally’ abused her during their professional relationship. She also claimed that the music producer had drugged and raped her on two occasions.
In April 2016 however, Kesha’s counter-claims against Dr. Luke were dismissed. This was mainly due to a previously unseen video in which Kesha swore under oath that Dr. Luke had never assaulted or drugged her in a deposition for a lawsuit against her former managers at DAS Communications. Kesha and her lawyers claimed that the statements made were false and made due to fear, bullying and trauma.
Then in June 2023, Kesha and Dr. Luke released a joint statement saying they have reached a settlement.
Kesha’s portion of the statement said, ‘Only God knows what happened that night. I have always said, I cannot recount everything that happened. I am looking forward to closing the door on this chapter of my life and beginning a new one. I wish nothing but peace to all parties involved.’
Dr Luke then added, ‘While I appreciate Kesha again acknowledging that she cannot recount what happened that night in 2005, I am absolutely certain that nothing happened. I never drugged or assaulted her and would never do that to anyone. For the sake of my family, I have vigorously fought to clear my name for nearly 10 years. It is time for me to put this difficult matter behind me and move on with my life. I wish Kesha well.”
Are Katy Perry and Kesha friends?
Now, fans aren’t happy that Katy Perry has decided to record with the producer.
Among the well wishes and excitement, several of Katy’s followers referenced Kesha’s court case under her single announcement. One follower wrote, ‘Special thanks to alleged r@pi$t Dr Luke for your awful new single’ whilst another commented, ‘yea sorry no. working with that man in 2024 is so tacky and distasteful so no’.
And perhaps that’s because Kesha and Katy Perry have seemingly been friends for years and have been pictured hanging out together on multiple occasions.
More recently – specifically since it was revealed that Katy Perry had worked with Dr. Luke on her new album – things have seemingly turned frosty.
Firstly, many assumed that Kesha’s tweet earlier this month which read simply, ‘lol’ was directed at her former friend. That situation was then escalated when Kesha tried to do a photo shoot in a gas station wearing a red mini skirt, a red cowboy hat and a white tank top which read the word, ‘LOL’.
There was also an excruciating encounter between Kesha and a paparazzi who asked the TikTok singer what she thought of Katy Perry working with Dr. Luke. While Kesha didn’t actually say anything, her face seemed to indicate to fans that she wasn’t impressed.
Grazia approached Katy Perry and her team for comment but received no response.
Daisy Hall is a News and Entertainment writer on Grazia, specialising in music, TV and film.