Kesha, producer trade lawsuits over abuse claims

In this Ag. 24, 2014 file photo, Kesha arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Kesha and her mentor and music producer, Dr. Luke, filed dueling lawsuits on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, over the pop singer’s recording contracts and her allegations that the producer sexually and emotionally abused her for several years. Dr. Luke’s lawsuit calls the claims an extortion attempt by Kesha and her mother to gain a more favorable recording contract. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, file)

LOS ANGELES — Pop singer Kesha is suing her producer and mentor, claiming he sexually and emotionally abused her for nearly a decade — allegations he calls extortion.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles alleges the producer known as Dr. Luke drugged and raped Kesha and emotionally abused her until she had to enter rehab for an eating disorder earlier this year.

Dr. Luke filed a lawsuit in New York calling the claims defamatory and an attempt to extort him to give Kesha a better record deal.

Kesha signed with Dr. Luke’s record company when she was 18. He produced her first two albums and hit “Tik Tok.”

Kesha’s lawsuit claims the producer, whose real name is Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, has control over her career. It seeks to invalidate their recording agreements.