San Diego LGBT Pride Music Festival headliner Kesha may not have set out on a career trajectory intending to become an educator of straight men, but boy has she schooled a few.
Take for instance an Internet troll who recently made the mistake of publicly criticizing the megastar recording artist’s posterior. Here’s the stunningly concise, polite and informative text from Kesha’s Instagram smackdown of said troll:
“[D]ear @jackknife76, I see that you would very much like me to know that you think I’m ugly, and also a ‘whore.’ [W]ell, I understand that that is your opinion, but I disagree. I’m not perfect but I’m pretty f**king magical. [A]nd also, I am not, in fact, a whore. [A]lso bullying someone who has struggled publicly with body issues is pretty mean. [T]hank God I’m in a place in my life where I feel empowered to address your nasty comments instead of letting them destroy me. [S]o, on behalf of anyone anywhere who struggles with body image, STOP IT. [M]y body is not your business. [emoji deleted] In conclusion, kiss my magical imperfect ass [emojis deleted].”
Kesha’s musical hits include, “Tik Tok” and “We R Who We R”, of which the former sold 14 million downloads. Additionally, the 29-year-old singer-songwriter-rapper has written enough hit material for other artists, including Britney Spears, to place her among the top-selling Billboard musicians in recent history.
A recovering sufferer of an eating disorder and vocal advocate who speaks out on behalf of LGBT people, as well as women and girls against body shaming and misogyny, Kesha alleges that she was the victim of sexual assault allegedly committed by none other than her own music producer and former mentor, Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, head of Sony Music’s Kemosabe label.
Following a New York state Supreme Court justice’s ruling in a recording-contract lawsuit that denied Kesha’s counterclaim that she should be released from her contract with Gottwald because he had allegedly sexually, physically and emotionally abused her for years, the artist posted a defiant message on social media.
That message read, “So. I got offered my freedom IF I were to lie. I would have to APOLOGIZE publicly and say that I never got raped. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS behind closed doors. I will not take back the TRUTH. I would rather let the truth ruin my career than lie for a monster ever again.”
Gottwald denies the artist’s charges. Although he claims Kesha, born Kesha Sebert, can record at his label unfettered by his influence, it has been noted that as Kemosabe Records’ top executive, he ultimately is her overseer at the label.
On a happier note, Kesha had a special message for readers of San Diego LGBT Weekly and attendees of this year’s San Diego LGBT Pride Music Festival, telling this reporter via email, “Equal rights is something I have been taught since I was a child. We are all equal and we all deserve love. I promise to fight for equal rights till the day I die! It runs rainbow in my blood! I’m so honored to be playing San Diego Pride to celebrate just that! Come boogie with me to celebrate our f**king fabulous selves – I love you all.”
The San Diego LGBT Pride Music Festival is at Balboa Park’s Marston Point, Saturday and Sunday, July 16 and 17. Kesha takes to the Stonewall Main Stage Saturday at 7:55 p.m.Visit sdpride.org for more information.
