Kesha to make ‘statement’ at Billboard Awards
Kesha will reference her ongoing legal battle with Dr. Luke at the upcoming Billboard Music Awards.
The ‘Tik Tok’ hitmaker – who was denied release from her recording contract earlier this year, despite claiming she had been sexually abused by the producer – is reportedly planning a "statement performance" at the event, which is televised live from Las Vegas on May 22.
Sources told TMZ Kesha plans to make "direct references" to her battle with Luke – who has denied all her allegations against him – during the performance and could even incorporate images of him.
The news comes after Kesha performed Lady Gaga’s ‘Til It Happens To You’ – a track about sexual abuse taken from the rape documentary ‘The Hunting Ground’ – at the weekend and dedicated it to victims of abuse.
The 29-year-old singer wept as she sang the song at the Humane Society’s Los Angeles Gala.
Taking to the stage alongside Diane Warren – who co-wrote the song and was being honored at the event – Kesha told the audience at Hollywood’s Paramount Studios: "I want to dedicate this song to every man, woman, child, animal, that has ever been abused…"
And her performance won praise from Gaga, who tweeted afterwards: "Killed it @KeshaRose. I could feel your pain. Girl these boys won’t be in charge forever. The wisdom of women is rising. Let’s get louder (sic)"
Last month, the ‘Die Young’ hitmaker released her first single since she lost her legal battle, with the new version of Zedd’s ‘True Colors’ making her first new music in over three years.
Taking to Twitter, she wrote: "#truecolors spoke to me so deeply I had to spread the beautiful message of personal empowerment …
"this is more than a song. it’s a declaration of my truth #truecolors (sic)"
Zedd also took to Twitter to confirm to Dr. Luke – whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald – that he had sought permission to record the track with Kesha as the terms of their recording contract means the producer has approval over who the star works with.
He wrote on the social media site: "ZEDD & KESHA – TRUE COLORS. OFFICIALLY OUT: 4/29 Music can be freedom.
"Just to clarify: We didn’t use any loopholes. Kemosable / RCA gave us permission to release. (sic)"
Meanwhile, Kesha has been asked to testify under oath about the allegations she has made against the 42-year-old record producer. She was issued a subpoena to be questioned in an on-camera deposition in New York City in June.
