Kesha was denied an appeal in Dr. Luke’s defamation case.
On Thursday, April 22, three out of five New York Court of Appeals judges ruled in favor of Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald.
The judges ruled that he was not considered an “acclaimed and influential figure,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Despite his 200,000 Twitter followers and appearance as a judge on American Idol, these factors did not qualify him as a public figure. Their reasoning behind their decision is “that it has never injected itself into the public debate on sexual assault or abuse against artists in the entertainment industry.”
Gottwald, a successful music producer, did not gain media attention for his relationship with his clients or his treatment of artists in the entertainment industry, but for his work as a music producer in the name and the fame of the artists he represents, “read the decision.
Judge Saliann Scarpulla disagreed with the three judges who ruled in her favor and made her own statement on the issue.
“In summary, for many years, Dr. Luke received wide media coverage as a music producer and, in particular, as a discoverer and developer of female musical talent,” Scarpulla wrote in a separate paper. “He always sought that publicity. Dr. Luke’s protests that he was not well known at the time of the alleged defamatory statements are completely belied by the record.”
Scarpulla revealed another reason why the majority didn’t find him a versatile public figure. She said it was because “Dr. Luke” was not a “household name”.
She added: “Dr. Luke, however, has reached a level of fame and notoriety sufficient to be considered a versatile public figure. He is a household name for those who matter.”
In 2014, Kesha sued the famous producer for sexual assault and emotional support. He claimed that she made up the allegations in order to withdraw from her recording contract.
Six years later, in February 2020, the New York Supreme Court ruled in favor of Dr. Luke and said Kesha defamed him when she texted Lady Gaga claiming he raped Katy. Perry. Perry and Gottwald both rejected his request.
