Lady Gaga and Kesha's mom defend singer after Billboard axe

Lady Gaga and Kesha's mother have defended the singer after her Billboard Music Awards performance was axed.

The Tik Tok hitmaker was initially scheduled to perform at the ceremony on Sunday night (22May), but on Tuesday (17May16) executives at Dick Clark Productions, the company behind the big show in Las Vegas, confirmed in a statement that bosses behind Dr. Luke's record label Kemosabe Records, which Kesha is signed to, rescinded their approval for to appear.

This decision came after it was reported Kesha had planned to address her ongoing legal dispute with her former mentor onstage, following her accusations he assaulted and abused her during their decade-long partnership.

Kesha later took to Instagram to insist she had never intended to speak about the court battle, and now Lady Gaga and the singer's mom Patricia have revealed their disappointment over her performance being axed.

"Isn't it strange that it's legal to own a woman this way?" Gaga wrote on Twitter, alongside a link to a story about Dr. Luke blocking Kesha's appearance at the awards. She then likened the producer to the villain in The Little Mermaid, writing: "Listen Ursula, we want her voice back. #freeKesha."

Fans of the Disney film will remember that Ursula makes a deal with Ariel, the mermaid, to temporarily make her human in exchange for her voice.

Kesha's mother also used her Twitter page to speak out in defense of her daughter, launching a lengthy rant on Wednesday night (18May16).

"So are Keshas constitutional rights being violated now, judge Lady? Does every adult woman need a mans permission to do what she loves?" she began.

"Does Kesha have the right to pursue her happiness? Or did they only mean that for rich men? Do you think that there is one male singer who could ever be 'not allowed to sing' on the Billboard Awards by another man???

"How much more public abuse does my daughter have to take before someone says 'Enough is enough'!"

Patricia continued to accuse authorities of ignoring the sexual assault claims that Kesha has launched against Dr. Luke. She then encouraged other singers to boycott their performances at the scheduled awards to show solidarity for her daughter.

"And how can one person OWN another persons right to sing?
Song is prayer. So can Kesha pray without permission? Where's the line judge lady?" she added. "Wouldn't it be nice if other artists stood with Kesha and refused to preform (sic) if she is not allowed to sing!"

Patricia concluded her rant by accusing Kemosabe Records, an offshoot of Sony, of wanting the singer "to fail".

"Are KEMOSABE's actions today the actions of a record label that is trying to promote the success of their artist ?" she asked. "Wouldn't any record company fight to have their artist have the exposure to millions? Only if they wanted their artist to succeed ! My daughters record company wants her to fail and be broke from them dragging her through court for as long as they can.

"Way to go American legal system!"