News | Entertainment
24 Jan 2026 1:50
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Kesha felt as if she had "lost the rights to [herself]" during her legal battle with Dr. Luke

    The 37-year-old singer recently left Kemosabe - which is distributed by RCA Records - in December, six months after her long-running legal battle with the producer came to an end but admitted that shortly after signing with him in the late 2000s she dealt with the "ugly" situation by writing hits such as 'Tik Tok'.


    Speaking during a TED Talk, she said: "I found myself in a very ugly litigation with the same person who I had signed the rights to my recorded voice to. I had lost the rights to my voice, and in that I felt as if I had lost the rights to myself.

    "It was very public. It was very painful. I was very angry. So I did what I do with all my emotions, and I wrote my way through it.

    "On March 6, 2024, I've gained back legal rights over my own voice. And with it, a newly found freedom for the first time in nearly 20 years," she later said.

    "It's funny how you can lose the rights to your own voice, but you can never lose the rights to your truth."

    The 'Joyride' hitmaker- who sued Dr. Luke sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, emotional abuse, and violation of California business practices and only saw her legal battle come to an end in March 2024 - now knows that whenever she is feeling exceptionally emotional, she needs to write a song.

    She said: "Songwriting is a direct line of communication with the truth. In song, you can say things you can't say out loud to anyone else - not your friends, not your therapist, not your mom.

    "When I'm feeling anything intensely, I know it's time for me to write a song."

    Kesha and Dr. Luke, 50, had been locked in a legal dispute for years after she filed a lawsuit accusing him of drugging and raping her after a party in 2005, prompting the music ex ecutive - who denied the allegation - to file a defamation case.

    But in June last year, they settled out of court after nearly 10 years, just weeks before they were set to go to trial.

    The pair said in a joint statement shared on Kesha's Instagram stories: "Kesha and Dr Luke have agreed to a resolution of the lawsuit, and have agreed to issue and post a joint statement regarding that resolution."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     23 Jan: Oscars 2026: Sinners break record with nominations, Jacob Elordi and Rose Byrne receive nods
     23 Jan: Amanda Seyfried thinks winning an Oscar "isn't necessary" for career success
     23 Jan: Karol G and Feid have reportedly split
     23 Jan: Summer House stars Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula have split
     23 Jan: Emeli Sande and her fiancee Yoana Karemova have split
     23 Jan: Colleen Hoover is cancer-free
     23 Jan: Nicole Kidman reportedly feels "refreshed and optimistic" as her divorce from Keith Urban is behind her
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams denies player power was behind the early exit of coach Scott Robertson More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    An expectation the official cash rate will be held steady as inflation is higher than expected More...



     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    A person's been found dead at a Clutha address this evening - along with another person in a critical condition 21:57

    Christchurch:
    A pedestrian's seriously injured after being struck by a car on Christchurch's Riccarton Avenue about 10 to seven this evening 21:17

    International:
    Paris Hilton brings sex tape story to Washington for AI deepfake porn fight 21:07

    Environment:
    The Mount Maunganui tragedy reminds us landslides are NZ’s deadliest natural hazard 20:07

    Business:
    An expectation the official cash rate will be held steady as inflation is higher than expected 18:57

    Politics:
    Gloriavale's condemned private school is remaining open for the time being 18:37

    Environment:
    What is a landslide, how do they happen and where are they most common? 18:17

    Rugby:
    All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams denies player power was behind the early exit of coach Scott Robertson 18:07

    Soccer:
    To football, and South Island United have claimed their first win in the Oceania Pro League 18:07

    Law and Order:
    Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen a 62-year-old man reported missing from the Invercargill area - last seen two weeks ago 17:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd