Kesha sure has a powerful ally in Lady Gaga.
Days after Kelly Clarkson spoke out against Dr. Luke, Gaga is opening up about her friendship with Kesha and explaining why the embattled singer desperately needs the support of her peers in the music industry. Kesha has been involved in an ongoing legal battle against Dr. Luke, whom she alleges drugged and sexually assaulted her.
Even though Gaga has touched on this issue before, she insists that people probably don’t know the entire story. “I think that people should know that there’s so much more than what meets the eye in a case like that. It’s so kind of deceiving when you read about contracts and you read about what people owe each other, in terms of power and records. The truth is I feel like she’s being very publicly shamed for something that happens in the music industry all the time to women and men,” she told Carson Daly on his 97.1 AMP Radio show.
Gaga, who has gone on the record by saying she was raped when she was 19 by someone from the industry, explained that she can relate to Kesha’s situation. “I just want to stand by her side because I can’t watch another woman that went through what I’ve been through suffer, and have everyone have a go at her as if she’s lying,” she said.
The pop star continued, “I have to say, I talk to her every day. I’m friends with her personally. What I’m watching her go through is not only something I’ve been through but something that’s devastating to witness. Somebody that has such a beautiful light within them, so much talent to give — to see that light burn out because they feel that no one’s listening to them. I feel that it’s my responsibility to stand up for her.”
Daly also pointed out that many other stars have been vocal about their support for Kesha, but have instead opted for a more quite and carefully-worded approach. “That’s because nobody wants to say anything implicitly against anyone, number one, because none of us are vindictive people. We don’t hurt anybody. But number two, I think everyone’s really afraid of somebody coming after them. And that’s just the way that this business works.
“You know, if you don’t keep quiet, somebody will be litigious against you and come after you. We’re all trying to be careful with the way that we say things for that reason. I’m sure you can hear me being careful when I’m talking about this… I’m also trying to protect myself and my family. It’s a very complicated thing,” Gaga explained.
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Ultimately, Gaga says we should all look at the big picture, referring to Sony and the music industry as a whole.
“The reason that I’m standing by her is because I want to help make it easier for young artists in this industry for their music to get heard… The things that you have to deal with on a moral and an ethical level with people related to money and sex and contracts — it’s really scary for a young person,” she said.
“I think that truthfully they probably didn’t think that this story was gonna blow up the way that it has and I think that it got swept under the rug. At some point, you know, we’re gonna shake the tree until that leaf that has Kesha on it falls right off,” added the 29-year-old singer.
Well said, Gaga! It’s encouraging to see that Kesha has a wonderful support system during this trying time.
Listen to Gaga’s interview below:
