A New York judge on Wednesday dismissed pop singer Kesha’s sexual assault claims against her producer, ruling that the allegations don’t rise to the level of human rights crimes.
Kesha, who shot to fame with the 2010 hit “Tik Tok,” claimed that her producer Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald drugged and sexually assaulted her, and physically and verbally tormented her for a decade. Gottwald has never been charged and has denied the claims.
Manhattan State Supreme Court Justice Shirley Werner Kornreich ruled Wednesday that the abuse claims can’t go forward because they happened outside of New York and the statute of limitations expired.
Related: Kesha Accuses Hitmaker Dr. Luke of 'Exploitation' and Abuse
The judge also ruled the claims don’t prove any alleged violence “was motivated by gender animus” under hate crime laws.
"Every rape is not a gender-motivated hate crime," Kornreich said in the ruling.
"Her claims of insults about her value as an artist, her looks, and her weight are insufficient to constitute extreme, outrageous conduct intolerable in civilized society,” the judge wrote.
Kesha sued Gottwald, Sony Music Entertainment and Kemosabe Records seeking to be released from the contract. Gottwald sued her for breach of contract.
A judge in February denied Kesha’s bid to end the contract. Kesha's attorneys have appealed that ruling. Music stars like Taylor Swift and Adele have come to the singer’s defense and supported her.
Attorneys for Kesha and Sony did not immediately return a message seeking comment Wednesday.
Gottwald signed Kesha in 2005. In 2013, after “Tik Tok” went platinum and the 2012 release of “Warrior," Kesha stopped working with Dr. Luke and said she was being denied royalties, according to court documents.
The alleged abuse took place in California. Kesha filed a complaint in that state under statutes against of gender violence among others.
In the New York claims, attorneys for Kesha argued that Gottwald and the other defendants discriminated against her based on her gender in violation of human rights laws, and other claims under laws against gender-motivated violence.
Gottwald is a Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer who has worked with Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson and many others.
Gottwald has denied ever having sex with Kesha. In February, he said on Twitter: "Kesha and I were friends for many years and she was like my little sister."
