Sony Music will end its contract with producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald a year before it expires, according to The Wrap.
Working with Dr. Luke has become a "public relations headache," for Sony the site notes, due to Dr. Luke's ongoing legal battle with singer Kesha since 2014.
"The fact that this hasn’t already been taken care of is confusing, especially for people in the building," a source told the site.
In an e-mail with Buzzfeed News on Wednesday, Luke’s attorney Christine Lepera said the reports are not true.
“His representatives are in regular contact with executives at the highest levels at Sony and this has never come up," she told the site.
According to Kesha's lawsuit, the 29-year-old singer claims the producer drugged and sexually assaulted her, as well as subjected her to verbal and emotional abuse.
Gottwald's lawyers argue the allegations and claims are untrue.
In a related case, Kesha filed for an injunction to leave her contract with Dr. Luke. In February a judge ruled the singer had to remain in her contract with Sony Music and the producer, which immediately prompted the #FreeKesha hashtag on social media sites.
The #FreeKesha hashtag also gained support from other powerful women in the music industry including Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson and Adele.
During the 2016 Brit Awards in February, singer Adele thanked her manager and record label for embracing her as a woman on stage and also reached out to Kesha. "I would also like to take this moment to publicly support Kesha,” she said.
Adele is signed to Columbia Records, which is owned by Sony Music.
“There is no contest. Kesha has no case in regards to her contract but they can’t afford the Adeles of the world out in the streets calling the label unsupportive,” another source told The Wrap.
After the court denied her injunction, the singer took to her Facebook page to thank her fans for the support.
"If you have been abused, please don't be afraid to speak out. There are places that will make you feel safe. There are people who will help you. I, for one, will stand beside you and behind you. I know now how this all feels and will forever fight for you the way perfect strangers have been fighting for me," she wrote.
Dr. Luke has worked with artists like Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj. He wrote some of Kesha's biggest hits including, "Tik Tok," "Timber," and "Take It Off."
Kesha's last record, "Warrior" was released in 2012.
More to come.
With files from Angelyn Francis.
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