Kesha fans and supporters are planning to boycott Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards after it was announced the singer was forced to pull out of the show.
Dick Clark Productions, which is overseeing Sunday’s awards show, released a statement Tuesday explaining the last-minute cancellation: “Kesha accepted an invitation to perform on the show and she received written approval from Dr. Luke’s record label, Kemosabe Records. Kemosabe subsequently rescinded its approval following a media report on Wednesday, May 11, regarding Kesha’s appearance on the BBMAs.”
Care2 and Michael Eisele, author of the 230,600-signature Care2 petition to #FreeKesha, are also conducting a Twitterstorm urging celebrities who are attending the Billboard Music Awards, including Adele, Rihanna, Ludacris, Ashton Kutcher, and Demi Lovato, to speak out and support Kesha during the show.
“Myself and other Kesha supporters are boycotting the Billboard Music Awards unless Dr. Luke allows her to perform,” Eisele said in a statement. “It’s absolutely ridiculous how he continues to ignore the public outcry over his denial of Kesha’s creative freedom. Myself and the 230,600 people who have signed the Care2 petition to free Kesha will continue to fight back against Dr. Luke’s cruel and sexist suppression.”
Kesha accused Dr. Luke of abusing her sexually and emotionally in an October 2014 complaint. Luke, who has not been criminally charged, has denied all allegations and has also launched a suit of his own accusing defamation.
The public feud has drawn considerable attention, stars like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Lena Dunham, and Adele have voiced their support for Kesha.
