Abuse led to Kesha’s rehab stint, suit claims
Kesha and her mentor/producer filed dueling lawsuits this week over the pop singer’s claims she was subjected to almost a decade of sexual and emotional abuse.
Kesha’s lawsuit filed in Los Angeles accuses hit-making producer Dr. Luke of raping her and subjecting her to other sexual and emotional abuse for nearly a decade. The abuse led the Tik Tok singer to develop a severe eating disorder that required her to enter rehab earlier this year, according to the lawsuit.
Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, filed a lawsuit against Kesha in New York calling the claims defamatory and saying his protégé is making them in an attempt to extort him into giving her a better recording deal.
“She lived in a prison of his abuse and was terrified of speaking, messaging, tweeting or doing anything at all that he might disapprove of in the event that he would later use it to torture her and her family,” the lawsuit states.
Her lawsuit seeks to invalidate recording agreements she signed with Dr. Luke and his recording company when she turned 18. Kesha, whose real name is Kesha Rose Sebert, is a Nashville native who was lured to L.A. by Dr. Luke with promises of a music career, her suit states, adding that doctors who treated Kesha earlier this year have warned her that continued contact with him would be life-threatening.
CAR CRAZY
Jay Leno is returning to nightly television. The former Tonight Show host’s new prime-time venture, tentatively titled, Jay Leno’s Garage, and based on his Emmy Award-winning Web series, will premiere on CNBC in 2015, the network announced Wednesday. The precise debut date and frequency of airing are yet to be determined, the network said. Leno, 64, commented, “This show will be about anything that rolls, explodes and makes noise.”
EAGLE EYE
A founding member of the Eagles rock band is suing a Wisconsin clothing manufacturer over an ad he claims is a copyright violation. Don Henley apparently isn’t amused by the Duluth Trading Co. ad for its Henley shirts, which are men’s pullovers. Duluth’s ad encourages consumers to “Don a Henley and Take it easy,” playing off the Eagles hit single Take it Easy. Duluth Trading says it is aware of the claim, but doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
HEALTH ISSUE
Elisabeth Hasselbeck did not show up for her co-hosting duties on Fox & Friends on Wednesday after undergoing surgery on Tuesday. Her co-host Steve Doocy did not disclose what type of operation the 37-year-old had, only that “she’s going to be out for a couple of weeks.”
CUSTODY BATTLE
Uma Thurman has been sued by her ex-fiance Arpad Busson, who is seeking custody of their 2-year-old daughter, The New York Daily News reports. A spokesperson for Thurman told ET, “It is unfortunate that this very private discussion regarding Mr. Busson’s visitation rights and his participation in decision making has been made public. However, we are optimistic that a fair agreement for both sides will be reached out of court.”
NOT OVER
One of the Real Housewives of New Jersey stars convicted of bankruptcy fraud this month is headed back to court. Joe Giudice was set to appear in Passaic County court Wednesday on false identification charges. He is accused of using his brother’s ID to obtain a driver’s license while his own license was suspended for driving while intoxicated in 2010. The case will likely be resolved by a plea deal.
This story was originally published October 15, 2014 at 10:21 PM with the headline "Abuse led to Kesha’s rehab stint, suit claims."