Doja Cat Finally Addressed Her Controversial Work With Producer Dr. Luke

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Content Warning: Brief mention of sexual assault.

Doja Cat finally addressed the controversy surrounding her work with music producer Dr. Luke.

Doja on the red carpet of the VMAs smiling as she poses for photographers
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for RCA

When Doja Cat was 17, she signed to RCA and Kemosabe Records — the latter of which was cofounded by Dr. Luke. Then, in 2014, Kesha accused the producer of drugging and raping her.

Kesha singing onstage

However, Doja Cat's continued involvement with Dr. Luke has faced criticism — especially as he has been nominated for Grammy Awards for the past two years for his work on Doja Cat's Planet Her and "Say So."

Dr. Luke looking at a camera at a red carpet event
Jason Laveris / FilmMagic / Getty Images

As part of her Rolling Stone cover, Doja Cat finally discussed her work with Dr. Luke. The interviewer asked about her collab with Saweetie on "Best Friend" — which Dr. Luke has production and writing credits on. Saweetie has since said the song was part of a "bundle deal" and implied that she doesn't have plans to work with him again.

Saweetie and Doja Cat lounging on seats by the pool with Saweetie rocking a top that says ICY
WMG

When Doja Cat was asked by Rolling Stone whether she feels the same as Saweetie, she initially answered, “That’s not a question I feel really comfortable answering," before continuing, “I haven’t worked with him in a very long time."

  Rich Fury / Getty Images for DCP
Rich Fury / Getty Images for DCP

"A lot of those songs were...” She added. “There’s shit that he’s credited for, where I’m like, ‘Hmm, I don’t know, I don’t know if you did anything on that.’”

Doja performing onstage in a flesh-toned bodysuit decorated with reflective circles and fringe
Gilles Mingasson / ABC via Getty Images

When asked for specifics, Doja Cat replied, “It doesn’t matter. The point is he’s gotten some credit for shit. And, you know, it’s whatever. I don’t think I need to work with him again. I don’t think I need to work with him in the future. I know that.”

Doja backstage holding two American Music Awards that she won

“I think it was definitely nice of me to work with him,” she then added with a laugh.

ABC via Getty Images

A few weeks later, Doja Cat then sent a follow-up statement via her rep in an email: "I wanted to clarify something that I had been thinking about since the interview. When asked about Luke I may have said something that someone could interpret as me saying that he had taken credit on things he didn’t deserve to. I just want to be clear that I have no firsthand knowledge of that being the case and I don’t want to participate in the rumor mill. The credits on my music are accurate, and I don’t want to imply anything else.”

  Astrid Stawiarz / WireImage / Getty Images
Astrid Stawiarz / WireImage / Getty Images

Doja Cat then said that her comments came from her “sensitivities in the past about certain people attributing my general success to the work of others — in particular, men... As a young woman, I think it is always important to fight for the credit that we are all due, and that was the point I was trying to make there.”

  Emma Mcintyre / Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Emma Mcintyre / Getty Images for iHeartMedia

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If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here.