Lady Gaga Speaks Passionately About Kesha’s Sexual Assault Claim Against Dr. Luke: Listen

Robbie Daw | March 8, 2016 12:33 pm

Lady Gaga took part an interview with Carson Daly for 97.1 AMP Radio that touched quite extensively on the singer’s Oscar-nominated track “Till It Happens To You” and, by extension, Gaga’s very public support of Kesha during the latter’s sexual assault case against producer Dr. Luke.

“I think that people should know that there’s so much more than what meets the eye in a case like that,” Gaga told Daly. “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.”

Gaga, who’s gone on the record by saying she herself experienced a similar situation when she was just an up and coming artist, explained that she can relate to what Kesha’s going through.

“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,” Gaga said. “This is just — 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.”

Ultimately, Gaga stated that she feels “it’s my responsibility to stand up for her, when there’s a lot of people who are not listening to her plea for love, for people to have compassion and empathy. I think we all know people in power sometimes can use their power for bad things.”

More:: Kelly Clarkson says she was blackmailed into working with Dr. Luke

Daly brought up the fact that other artists like Adele and Taylor Swift have been supportive of Kesha, but have gone about it in a very quiet, carefully-worded manner.

“That’s because nobody wants to say anything implicitly against anyone, number one, because none of us are vindictive people,” Gaga explained. “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 also noted the bigger picture of what a case like this means for the music business: “I will say, 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 and I just think that people should be educated about while the country’s deciding where justice should be served.”

Daly broached the idea that Sony, if the company chose to do so, could work out some way for Kesha to be freed from Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe contract. He also pointed out Kelly Clarkson‘s own claim that she was blackmailed into working with Luke.

“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,” Gaga said. “At some point, you know, we’re gonna shake the tree until that leaf that has Kesha on it falls right off.”

As the topic of Kesha wound down, Gaga became emotional during her chat with Daly. With her voice raised, she said, “This is an almost-30-year-old woman who’s a musician and an incredible talent. In any other business, if you were to report that anything happened to you to the, you know, human resources department, it would be dealt with. But we don’t have a human resources department; we don’t have a union as artists. We’re just fighting for ourselves. We have these huge obstacles against us, and if we don’t stick together, our voices just won’t be heard.”

Moving stuff, and powerful words from one of Kesha’s peers. Does this change your mind about the singer’s messy court case with Dr. Luke?

Where do you stand on Kesha’s claims against Dr. Luke? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!

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