From Kelly Clarkson to Lady Gaga, tweets are mounting in support of pop singer Kesha, often with the hashtag, #FreeKesha.
Kesha, born Kesha Sebert, was in court Friday as part of an ongoing battle with producer Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald. She lost her bid to be freed from her contract, which would compel her to work with a producer she says raped and abused her.
So what's the back story?
In October 2014, Kesha filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the music producer, alleging sexual and physical assault.
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The suit also claimed Gottwald forced the singer to take illegal drugs and Gottwald gave her "sober pills."
Billboard reported that, according to the suit, those pills were a form of gamma-hydroxybutyrate, which is the "date-rape" drug.
The complaint was amended in June 2015 to say that her record label, Sony Music, "placed Jane Doe female artists, including Ms. Sebert, in physical danger by giving Dr. Luke full creative and business control," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"Based on SME's conduct, SME has forced an abusive relationship between Dr. Luke and Ms. Sebert to this day," the amended complaint said.
Under these complaints, Kesha requested to be released from her contract with Sony.
The contract requires her to make three more records with Kemosabe Records, Gottwald's label, which is under Sony.
Gottwald then filed a suit in New York alleging extortion by Kesha's lawyer, Mark Geragos, and Kesha's mother, Pebe Sebert.
"Entertainment Weekly" reported that the suit was dismissed Feb. 3.
On Friday afternoon, Kesha burst into tears in a courtroom when a judge ruled against her request to be released from her contract.
Sony offered to let Kesha work with a producer other than Gottwald, making it unclear if any new music would be released under a different Sony imprint.
Geragos told The Huffington Post that the offer is a small step, but he and his client wanted "complete separation from Luke."
"We're going to move forward and we're going to get her that," Geragos said. "She doesn't have to be victimized repeatedly by this guy."
