Judge throws out Kesha's sex abuse claims against producer

Updated

A judge has dismissed claims by pop star Kesha that producer Dr Luke violated human rights and hate crime laws by drugging, sexually abusing and emotionally tormenting her.

Justice Shirley Werner Kornreich gave a ruling in the civil court clash involving the producer, who denies the accusations and has not been charged with any crime.

Kesha fans had called on Sony to sever ties with Dr Luke, with the singer receiving support from a number of celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Adele and Lady Gaga.

Kesha  in concert last year
Kesha in concert last year (Todd J. Van Emst/Opelika-Auburn News via AP)

But claims that Dr Luke violated Kesha's rights by raping and abusing her cannot go forward because the alleged incidents happened outside New York, the Manhattan state Supreme Court judge ruled.

They also do not meet the high legal bar for "intentional infliction of emotional distress", the judge added.

Judge Kornreich wrote: "Her claims of insults about her value as an artist, her looks and her weight are insufficient to constitute extreme, outrageous conduct intolerable in a civilised society."

Kesha fans demonstrate outside Sony headquarters in New York
Kesha fans demonstrate outside Sony headquarters in New York (Mary Altaffer/AP)

The judge added that Kesha did not say that Dr Luke's alleged attacks were spurred by animus towards women.

"Every rape is not a gender-motivated hate crime," the judge wrote.

Lawyers for Kesha did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling.

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