Taylor Swift donates $250,000 to Kesha ‘during this trying time’

Taylor Swift has joined the list of musicians who are offering support to singer and songwriter Kesha during her ongoing legal dispute with her producer and former mentor Dr. Luke, with Swift’s aid coming in the form of a $250,000 donation.

Swift’s representative confirmed on Sunday that, “In a show of support, Taylor Swift has donated $250,000 to Kesha to help with any of her financial needs during this trying time.”

Most recently, Kesha’s request for a preliminary injunction that would allow her to release new music for a label other than Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records, which signed her in 2004 and released her hits “Tik Tok,” “We R Who We R,” “DieYoung” and “Timber.”

Kesha has sued Dr. Luke, whose given name is Lukasz Gottwald, alleging that he drugged and raped her a decade ago and has continued to sexually abuse her. Gottwald has denied the allegations, claiming that Kesha and her lawyers are using the lawsuit to negate her contract.

On Friday, a judge in New York denied Kesha’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed her to record for another label, ruling that Gottwald’s team had previously offered to allow her to record for a different label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, which owns Kemosabe.

New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich cited that offer in denying the injunction, telling Kesha’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, that it “decimates your argument,” according to Billboard. “You’re asking the court to decimate a contract that was heavily negotiated and typical for the industry,” Kornreich said, adding, “My instinct is to do the commercially reasonable thing.”

Geragos has argued that a pop star’s career can be short-lived and that continuing to work with Dr. Luke and Kemosabe would cause his client irreparable harm. Kesha also has sued Sony, claiming that the company has continued to support Gottwald and is putting other female artists in jeopardy.

Swift is among several pop stars who have gone public with support of Kesha, among them Lady Gaga, Lorde, Kelly Clarkson, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato. Others have tweeted messages of support; Swift’s included significant financial help.

Fresh from her triple win at last week’s Grammy Awards, where her “1989” album won for album of the year, Swift made the donation on a weekend when she was back in her home state of Pennsylvania for the wedding of her best friend, Brittany Maack, her spokeswoman said. Swift served as maid of honor.

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