Judge: Kesha Must Work With Producer She Says Raped Her

Kesha will still be legally tied to a man she claims "drugged, sexually abused, and psychologically tormented" her—at least for the time being—after a New York judge refused to nullify her recording contracts Friday, the AP reports. The pop star alleges the abuse at the hands of producer Dr. Luke started a decade ago and eventually forced her into rehab in 2014, according to the New York Daily News. Kesha is under contract with Dr. Luke and Sony for six more albums. "My instinct is to do the commercially reasonable thing," the Hollywood Reporter quotes Justice Shirley Kornreich, who says Kesha can't "decimate a contract that was heavily negotiated," despite the rape and abuse allegations.

Dr. Luke's attorneys argued that he's invested $60 million into Kesha's career and even agreed to let her record with a different producer. They claim she's frustrated with her career and is making things up to get out of her contract. Kesha's attorneys say the offer to record without Dr. Luke isn't genuine, as Sony has more invested in the producer than in Kesha and wouldn't promote her music if she works with someone else. Kornreich sided with Dr. Luke in part because she found Kesha doesn't have enough solid evidence to back up her claims against the producer. With Kesha in tears in the courtroom, her fans gathered outside to support her. "Nobody should have to work with somebody who has abused her like this,” one 19-year-old tells the Daily News. The case, which THR describes as a "mess," is far from settled. (More Kesha stories.)