Kesha defends Kim Petras in dispute with label
- - Kesha defends Kim Petras in dispute with label
Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY January 22, 2026 at 3:42 AM
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Kesha signaled support for Kim Petras, who wants out of a deal with Republic Records.
Kesha is offering her support to Kim Petras following a public plea by the artist to be released from a deal with Republic Records.
"I'm tired of having no control over my own life or career. I want to continue to self-fund and self-curate my own music. This is why I have formally requested to be dropped by Republic Records," Petras, 33, wrote in a Jan. 20 post to X.
The singer-songwriter, known for her electro-pop music, said her album was finished but that Republic was slow-rolling its drop and had failed to compensate the other artists involved in the project.
"My album has been done for 6 months but my record label has refused to give me a release date or pay my collaborators for the work they've done," she wrote, also on the social media platform. "I won a Grammy 2 years ago…….. the music is TEA. Still no support. If it's not a TikTok trend or 80s revival queerbaiting … these labels have no interest in supporting."
USA TODAY has reached out to reps for Petras and Republic Records for comment.
Kesha, no stranger to public conflict with a label, signaled her support in the comments, writing: "I spent many years fighting for the rights to myself. Watching another woman realize that the 'golden cage' is still a cage isn’t a victory—it’s a tragedy we have to stop repeating.
"Freedom isn’t a privilege; it’s a birthright. I hear you, I’m sorry Kim," she added.
In 2014, Kesha sued longtime producer Dr. Luke, accusing him of sexual harassment and emotional distress. Dr. Luke countersued for defamation and breach of contract. Kesha dropped her assault lawsuit against the producer in California, but did not back down from her other accusations.
In 2023, the former producer-artist pair settled years of suits for an undisclosed amount. The resolution put an end to a legal fight that saw Kesha accuse Dr. Luke of drugging and assaulting her.
"Only God knows what happened that night," she said at the time, per NPR, while the producer said he was "absolutely certain that nothing happened. I never drugged or assaulted her." The allegations, which looped in several high-profile celebrities including Katy Perry and Adam Levine, remain a potent symbol for the #MeToo movement in the music industry.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kesha defends Kim Petras in dispute with label, slams 'golden cage'
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
