Complicating her ongoing legal battle with producer Dr. Luke, Kesha on Wednesday released several email exchanges between Luke (aka Lukasz Gottwald) and her manager, Monica Cornia – including multiple exchanges concerning the singer’s weight, potentially adding credibility to Kesha’s claims that the producer was psychologically abusive.
Page Six referenced copies of the emails, including one from Gottwald to Cornia on June 28th, 2012 in which the producer allegedly references a discussion about “how [Kesha] can be more disciplined with her diet.”
“There have been many times we have all witnessed her breaking her diet plan,” the email reportedly continues. “This perticular [sic] time — it happened to be diet coke and turkey while on an all juice fast.” In another email, Gottwald allegedly wrote that “A list songwriters and producers are reluctant to give Kesha their songs because of her weight.”
Another exchange concerned a dispute over a lyric from Kesha’s 2012 single “Crazy Kids.” After the singer pushed for using an alternate line, Luke allegedly responded, “I don’t give a shit what you want. If you were smart you would go in and sing it.”
In a statement given to Rolling Stone, Dr. Luke’s lawyer, Christine Lepera, responded to the emails, writing, “Kesha and her attorneys continue to mislead by refusing to disclose the larger record of evidence, showing the bad faith of Kesha Sebert and her representatives, which is greatly damaging to them. It also shows the tremendous support that Dr. Luke provided Kesha regarding artistic and personal issues, including Kesha’s own concerns over her weight.”
“Rather than agree to a thorough disclosure, Kesha and her representatives improperly publicized, without Court permission, three out-of-context emails which do not present the full picture regarding the events they concern,” Lepera continues. “For example, these emails do not show that the lyrics of ‘Crazy Kids’ were, in fact, rewritten at Kesha’s request. Any claim by Kesha to the contrary is deceiving the public – just like her other meritless claims of wrongdoing by Dr. Luke. Dr. Luke looks forward to full vindication in Court.”
Reps for Kesha and Cornia declined to comment.
By releasing the emails, Kesha is hoping a judge will consider shifting last year’s ruling that she couldn’t terminate her contract with Dr. Luke. The singer and producer are reportedly scheduled for a telephone conference with the judge this week.
In court documents filed this week, Kesha’s lawyers said the singer wants to “be free from her abuser and rebuild her physical, emotional and mental health.”