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With the 2016 Billboard Music Awards less than a week away, the evening’s list of performers should be confirmed by now. But it appears that Kesha, who was initially approved to perform on May 22, will no longer be able to do so because Dr. Luke’s label has now “rescinded its approval.”
A statement from dick clark productions (which produces the Billboard Music Awards) via Billboard says that Dr. Luke’s label record, Kemosabe Records, “rescinded its approval following a media report on Wednesday May 11 regarding Kesha’s appearance on the BBMAs.” The statement continues:
Dick clark productions has a long standing relationship with Kesha. We hope that the parties can come to an arrangement such that we can continue that long standing relationship with a performance by Kesha on the Billboard Music Awards stage on May 22nd.
Kesha and her former producer Dr. Luke have been involved in a long legal battle since October 2014. The singer had filed a lawsuit against Dr. Luke for “mental manipulation, emotional abuse, and sexual assault.”
This past February, a New York judge ruled against Kesha’s attempt for injunction against Dr. Luke, which meant that Kesha could not break her contract with Sony/Kemosabe. In April, Kesha revealed that Sony and Dr. Luke’s label made an offer—if she publicly apologized and retracted her rape claims, she could sever ties from the label.
The 2016 Billboard Music Awards will air live at 8 pm EST on Sunday, May 22 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
