Kesha Accuses Music Producer Dr Luke of Rape, Sexual and Emotional Abuse

US singer Kesha is suing a top music producer, after accusing him of rape, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse.

The Die Young singer claims Dr Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, forced her to "take drugs and alcohol in order to take advantage of her sexually, while she was intoxicated".

Kesha, whose full name is Kesha Rose Sebert, claims the music producer threatened to harm her career. She made the claims in a civil suit filed in Los Angeles.

She described an incident in which she recalled waking up naked, alleging that the Grammy nominated producer forced her to take "pills". She added that she was unable to remember how she ended up where she woke up.

The lawsuit does not state when the alleged rape happened, but claims the singer did not report it out of fear of retaliation by the producer.

The Tik Tok singer also alleged that comments made by Gottwald about her weight caused her to suffer from bulimia.

The lawsuit states: "She was terrified of speaking, messaging, tweeting or doing anything at all that he might disapprove of in the event that he would later use it to torture her and her family, as he had done so many times before."

Kesha's lawyer, Mark Geragos, added: "This lawsuit is a wholehearted effort by Kesha to regain control of her music career and her personal freedom after suffering for 10 years as a victim of mental manipulation, emotional abuse and sexual assault at the hands of Dr. Luke."

The singer is demanding damages and to be released from the contracts she has with the music producer, with whom she has been contractually tied since she was 18.

Dr. Luke has responded to the allegations claiming they are malicious lies and "defamatory" and has hit back with a counter claim, accusing Kesha and her mother of breach of contract and contractual interference.

He claims the "false and shocking accusations" have been contrived in order to extort him into releasing the 27-year-old from her contract.

"Kesha and her mother are engaged in a campaign of publishing outrageous and untrue statements about Dr Luke to third parties, including scurrilous and false statements of purported physical and mental abuse of Kesha," said Dr Luke's lawyer Christine Lepera.

The singer has in turn dismissed the countersuit. "This is just another pathetic and entirely predictable example of Dr Luke's continued abuse, and a misguided attempt to keep Kesha under his tyrannical control," said her lawyer Mr Geragos.

"Kesha is focused on reclaiming her voice and her freedom. She is determined to move on with her life and her career by putting this dark period behind her."

Dr Luke, 41, has produced several hit tracks recorded by major pop artists, including Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. He produced and co-wrote Miley Cyrus' hit Wrecking Ball.

His lawyer said she was confident Dr Luke would "prevail in all matters, and that our client will be awarded substantial damages for this malicious conduct".