Kesha leaves Diddy’s name off ‘Tik Tok’ after abuse lawsuit

Kesha now wakes up in the morning feeling like herself.

At a recent performance at the Hollywood Palladium, the singer changed the lyrics of her 2009 mega-hit “Tik Tok” to omit Sean “Diddy” Combs’ name.

As seen on a social network. videoKesha on Saturday’s show changed the song’s opening lyrics from “Wake up in the Morning Feelin’ like P Diddy” to “Wake Up in the Morning Feelin’ Just Like Me.”

The omission of Diddy’s name came after the music mogul was accused last week of rape, sexual assault and sex trafficking of the singer Cassie, his ex-partner, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura. Combs denied the allegations through his attorney. The day after the complaint was filed, the two reached an agreement. Details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Kesha’s representatives did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment on why she changed her handwriting.

“I have decided to resolve this matter amicably in terms of giving me some level of control,” Ventura said of the settlement in a statement issued through his legal team. “I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support.”

Combs issued a similar statement, saying, “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.”

Combs’ attorney, Ben Brafman, added: “The decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing. Mr. Combs’ decision to settle the lawsuit in no way undermines his outright rejection of the claims. He is happy that they have reached a mutual agreement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”

Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said he was “very proud of Ms. Ventura for having the strength to go public with her lawsuit. She should be praised for doing so.”

Ventura dated the famous hip-hop producer for about 11 years before splitting in 2018. She filed her civil lawsuit for sex trafficking and sexual assault against him in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York few days before a “look-back window” expired that allowed adults who alleged they were sexually abused to file a lawsuit even though the statute of limitations had expired.

In the lawsuit, Ventura, 37, accused Combs, 54, of raping her in his home after she tried to leave him; assault and physically hurt her; forcing her to engage in sexual acts with male sex workers while she filmed the encounters; running with a firearm; introduce you to “a lifestyle of excessive alcohol and substance abuse”; and requiring her to “obtain illicit prescriptions to satisfy her own addictions.”

Nardine Saad and Emily St. Martin, Times staff writers contributed to this report.