The Story Behind That Kesha Illustration All the Celebs Are Sharing
There are certain pieces of art that somehow manage to instantly become the symbol of a significant event. When the Paris Attacks happened, it was Jean Jullien’s Eiffel Tower peace sign that served as a global emblem of unity. Now, with Kesha’s legal battle on everyone’s mind, it’s Stefania Tejada’s whimsical illustration of the pop star that’s taking over social media.
Tejada’s illustration was initially published this morning alongside an essay written by Lena Dunham for her publication Lenny Letter. In the essay, Lena discusses not just Kesha’s case but takes a deep dive into what it says about women’s rights in 2016. Lena covers the fatal flaws in how Sony has dealt with the issue, how unjust the American legal system is in regards to protecting women against their abusers and how it needs to be amended ASAP.
At the end of her powerful essay, she writes, “We [women] are not scared anymore of losing what we worked for, of being branded hysterical or difficult, of being targeted and silenced by men in power. The women in the music industry speaking out for Kesha are proof. And their words will reverberate, inspiring the young women watching them for clues about the good life to speak up too. Soon, no one will accept shame and fear as the status quo. And so, while Kesha is indefinitely silenced, her voice has never been louder.”
Celebs have already been publicly standing behind Kesha, but after Lena’s essay was published this morning, even more celebrities began to post Tejada’s illustration alongside thoughtful words. Reese Witherspoon wrote, “Thank you @lenadunham for helping me understand the #Kesha case and for standing up for all survivors of abuse #FreedomForKesha.”
Anne Hathaway also shared the artwork, writing, “I stand with @iiswhoiis [Kesha]. If you are unfamiliar with the case, @LenaDunham does a brilliant job in this week’s @LennyLetter explaining the nightmare in which Kesha finds herself. Kesha’s situation is just one of all-too-many examples of how the legal system in this country fails to protect victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, the vast majority of whom are women. Please regram and add your voice and your support!”
If you’re currently hanging out in bed (east coasters) or embarking on your commute home (west coasters), Lena’s essay is well worth a read.
Where do you stand on this issue? Share with us on Twitter @britandco.
(Photo via Stefania Tejada/Lenny Letter and Kevin Winter/Getty)
