Columnist Kenyetta Whitfield discusses Kesha's court ruling against Sony and her alleged rapist.
On Friday a Manhattan Supreme Court judge refused to allow pop singer Kesha to walk away from her contract with Sony. The decision means that Kesha will have to make six more albums with Sony before being released from her contract.
Though Sony has offered to let her work with another producer, she fears that her music won't be promoted as much if it's not produced by Sony's hitmaker and her alleged rapist: Dr. Luke.
Dr. Luke's real name is Luke Gottwald. Kesha said Gottwald drugged and raped her a decade ago. He was never criminally charged.
Since the court ruling, many celebrities have shown support for Kesha, including Lady Gaga and Lorde. Fans have also expressed their support for Kesha and their disdain for Sony through the hashtags #FreeKesha and #SonySupportsRapists.
Kesha’s case represents not only a personal struggle for safety and redemption, but also the larger issue of rape culture and the government’s lack of care for survivors.
The decision to hold Kesha to her contract despite her desperate pleas were rationalized by Judge Shirley Kornreich. Kornreich said Sony would suffer irreparable harm if Kesha was not compelled to abide by her contract.
The idea that monetary gain is more important that the safety and emotional and mental health of a survivor is one of the many reasons rape survivors keep their stories silent for so long. Kesha’s story, along with the many survivors who have spoken out about Bill Cosby, are the stories of rape survivors across the world.
Their stories are delegitimized and torn apart because rape has never been seen as a serious crime and will never been seen as one while feminine bodies are undervalued.
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As was mentioned in Huffington Post, reporting sexual assault means recounting in great detail an extremely painful experience to non-believers everywhere.
Kesha’s much publicized case is an example of what has to change in our society and legal system as we go forward. If survivors are considered less important than capitalist gains or are deemed liars, then we will never live in a world where sexual assault and rape, which are crimes, will be rightfully prosecuted.
It is time to treat the exploitation of bodies with the same respect as that of other crimes.
Kenyetta Whitfield is a sophomore studying journalism. What do you think of the court's ruling? Tweet Kenyetta @Ken_Whitty or email her at kw162913@ohio.edu.
