Kesha’s Controversial Performance at Hard Rock Casino sparks concern

Kesha sparked concern on Thursday as she performed her new single JOYRIDE with a large knife at the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City. 

The singer-songwriter, 37, who dropped her new single on Thursday after parting ways with Dr. Luke’s record label less than a year ago, commanded attention on stage as she wielded a large knife. 

During the concert, the Die Young hitmaker held up to the crowd a black T-shirt which read the word ‘free’ in glitter to indicate her ‘freedom’ from the record label. 

Sporting a sparkly black corset with lace panels, the singer proceeded to pull out a large knife as she sang to the crowd.

During the event, the star switched up her outfit several times and proceeded to dress as a nun before slipping into a cowboy chic ensemble. 

She also daringly held up a sanitary pad to the crowd which featured the word ‘c***y’.

The blonde beauty looked incredible as she styled her locks in loose waves and wore a silver sparkly eyeshadow. 

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The performance bares a striking resemblance to Britney Spears dangerous dance with huge kitchen knives last year. 

The pop icon, 41, employed two knives as props in the silent clip at the time and shared the video with her 42.1 million Instagram followers. 

The hitmaker was scantily clad in swimsuit bottoms and a crop top as she appeared in the foyer of her California home while whizzing the two kitchen utensils in a dizzying piece of improvised choreography.

Britney assured fans in the caption: ‘I started playing in the kitchen with knives today!!! Don’t worry they are NOT real knives!!!’

Kesha’s performance comes as she celebrated her independence by dropping her new single titled JOYRIDE on Independence Day. 

As a newly minted indie artist, the singer-songwriter released the defiant, upbeat track as her very first since parting ways with Dr. Luke’s record label less than a year ago. 

The TiK ToK hitmaker has been teasing new music for months, and just several days earlier, she announced her plans to release JOYRIDE — which she debuted at Brooklyn’s Planet Pride over the weekend — on the 4th of July.

However, just days before Katy Perry is set to release her own track, Kesha’s JOYRIDE release appeared to be a subtle jab at the Fireworks singer for collaborating with the controversial record producer. 

After a lengthy legal battle against Dr. Luke — a record producer she accused of sexually assaulting and abusing her for years — it appears that’s all in the rearview mirror. 

Kesha’s new summer anthem features an electro sound, reminiscent of her early hits, such as TiK ToK and We R Who We R, as well as bold, headstrong lyrics about looking for a ‘good time.’

She even makes an apparent reference to 2004 cult classic Mean Girls and sings in the chorus: ‘Get in, loser, for the joyride.’ 

In the first verse, she calls herself a ‘b****’ and purrs: ‘Don’t try to gi-give me s*** / I’ve earned the right to b-be like this.’ 

After the chorus and in the second verse, she sings lyrics, surely to go viral: ‘You want kids? Well I am mother.’

She released JOYRIDE with cover art showcasing her long legs, clad in bright red tights and over-the-knee, latex boots, as she sat on the hood of a Porsche convertible.

In the faceless image, Kesha could be seen wearing a crop top with latex opera gloves and nothing else except for a cheeky thong and her sheer stockings. 

Her release of JOYRIDE comes shortly after her record deal with Kemosabe Records and RCA ended in December 2023.

Earlier that same year, she released her Gag Order album in May — the final one she was contractually obligated to record for the label.

Back in 2009, she signed a traditional industry contract in and was thus legally bound to record a total of seven albums for her alleged abuser. 

She released five full-length albums and three EPs before parting ways with his RCA imprint last year.

In 2023, her acrimonious, nearly decade-long legal battle with Dr. Luke also ended when they settled out-of-court.

Despite her newfound freedom, however, she couldn’t release music until February 2024 and previously said she was ‘counting down the days.’

Back in 2014, Kesha filed a civil lawsuit against Dr. Luke, whose full name is Lukasz Gottwald. 

She claimed he abused her ‘physically, sexually, verbally and emotionally’ over a 10-year period. 

He adamantly denied the allegations and in turn, sued her for defamation and breach of contract in the amount of $50 million. 

In 2016, Kesha dropped the abuse claims, concluding she did not fully remember the events of the evening, but the Kemosabe Records founder’s suit continued, for almost a decade. 

Kesha’s last five albums, including Gag Order, were all released under Kemosabe.

Additionally, the musician — who rose to fame after being featured on Flo Rida’s 2009 smash hit Right Round and later releasing her breakout hit TiK ToK in 2012 — has a versatile discography, which includes: Animal (2010), Warrior (2012), Rainbow (2017) and High Road (2020).