Taylor Swift gives ‘rape contract row’ star Kesha $250,000 donation

Taylor Swift has given fellow pop star Kesha $250,000 (£176,000) as she battles to get out of a contract with a record producer she has accused of assaulting her. A representative for Swift confirmed that the singer had made the donation in what she called a “show of support”. Kesha, famous for her hits Tik Tok, Die Young and Timber, claims Dr Luke, real name Luke Gottwald, forced her to “take drugs and alcohol in order to take advantage of her sexually while she was intoxicated”.

All of their horrific allegations of abuse, threats and other purported misconduct by me against Kesha are completely untrue and deeply hurtful.

Dr Luke, in a sworn deposition

She sobbed in court on Friday when a judge denied her bid to get out of her contract. Dr Luke, who has also worked with Britney Spears and Katy Perry, accused the singer of fabricating the charges. The producer and Sony Music Entertainment say Kesha is violating a five-album agreement by not recording. While the court decision is not the final judgment in the case, the decision has led to an outpouring of support for Kesha on social media from other celebrities, including Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Lorde.

Kesha