(Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna)

Following a batch of emails released from Kesha’s team last week, Dr. Luke has filed his own share of email exchanges as court documents as a counter. Both sets of emails arrive as Kesha hopes that the judge will consider shifting last year’s ruling that she cannot terminate her contract with the producer who allegedly psychologically harassed her.

The first set of emails contained multiple exchanges regarding the singer’s weight, such as a message from Dr. Luke to Kesha’s manager, Monica Cornia, on June 28th, 2012, in which the producer allegedly referenced a discussion about “how [Kesha] can be more disciplined with her diet.” In another email, Gottwald allegedly wrote that “A-list songwriters and producers are reluctant to give Kesha their songs because of her weight.”

Gottwald’s lawyers, however, say the emails “purposefully misrepresent the truth” and “do not remotely reflect any ‘abuse’ by [Gottwald], or any other type of behavior that could ever justify voiding her contracts.” The motion goes on to claim, “Kesha and her managers know full well that they are mischaracterizing this conduct as ‘abuse’ because Kesha, her managers, and others in Kesha’s life, frequently discussed her weight and dieting practices – and not in the most flattering of terms.”

The emails submitted by Gottwald’s team included a March 12th, 2012 exchange between Cornia and Kesha’s personal assistant, Tessa Schonder, about creating a meal plan for the singer. Another email from July 9th, 2015, shows another manager, Nicki Loranger, suggesting Kesha’s team “must get her working out again, sticking to a meal plan, discussing with her nutritionist the best ways to discuss weight gain or possibly her returning to rehab for a ‘Tune up.'”

Elsewhere, the motion accused Kesha’s team of not submitting an e-mail in which Gottwald “complemented Kesha on her appearance when she voiced concerns about it.” In that note, dated January 29th, 2010, Dr. Luke wrote, “I know you said you looked like a lesbo but I disagree – you looked radiant and beautiful. You’re doing exactly what you’re meant to be doing right now. You’re actualizing your dreams. I’m proud of you and love you very much!”

Along with the slew of emails, Gottwald’s new motion also included a rebuttal against Kesha’s lawyers’ attempts to use California’s so-called “seven year rule” in a New York court via a “choice-of-law” provision. The California law states that a court can’t enforce a personal service contract after seven calendar years from when the deal began, but Gottwald’s lawyers claim the “choice-of-law” provision is not applicable in this case because Kesha’s team “has not demonstrated and cannot demonstrate that California has a ‘materially greater interest’ in this dispute than New York.

Whatever the outcome of the trial is, the process sure seems like it will continue to be a long and dirty one.