Kesha has publicly voiced her support for Kim Petras following the singer’s revelation that her record label (Republic Records) is preventing the release of new music, drawing a direct parallel to her own long and highly publicized fight for artistic autonomy. The message, shared after Petras confirmed her album remains locked despite being finished, added a deeper industry perspective to an already heated conversation about control, contracts, and creative freedom.
“I spent many years fighting for the rights to myself,” Kesha wrote. “Watching another woman realize that the ‘golden cage’ is still a cage isn’t a victory—it’s a tragedy we have to stop repeating. Freedom isn’t a privilege; it’s a birthright. I hear you, I’m sorry Kim.”
The statement resonated widely, not only because of its timing but because of Kesha’s own history. After nearly a decade of legal disputes involving producer Dr. Luke, Kesha reached a settlement in 2023 that allowed her to move forward independently.
Petras’ situation, while different in detail, echoes familiar tensions. The German pop artist recently confirmed that she has formally requested to be released from Republic Records after months of stalled progress. According to Petras, her upcoming album DETOUR has been completed for six months. Despite this, she claims the label has not approved a release date or paid collaborators involved in the project.
She laid out the dispute in a series of posts on X, writing first that her finished album remains unreleased and unpaid. She then revealed that she personally financed a music video for the next single more than two months ago, only to face the same silence. Petras concluded by stating she no longer has control over her career and wants to continue self-funding and curating her work, before reassuring fans that they have “waited long enough.”
The posts quickly spread across social media, with fans amplifying her claims and rallying behind the hashtag #FREEKIMPETRAS.
This is not the first time Petras has faced complications at the label level. Her previous album, Problématique, was originally positioned as her official debut before enduring repeated delays and a temporary cancellation. When it finally arrived as a surprise release in September 2023, the record was embraced for its bold, European-rooted pop identity and unapologetic escapism.
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