Pitbull Denies Kesha Was Purposely Removed from 'Timber' Title on YouTube: 'Always Nothing but Love'

The pair released the dance-pop hit in 2013

Singers Ke$ha, (L) and Pitbull perform onstage during the 2013 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
Kesha and Pitbull perform onstage during the American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Nov. 24, 2013 in Los Angeles. Photo:

Kevin Winter/Getty

According to Pitbull, nothing is going down with Kesha.

On Sunday, Aug. 18, the "Give Me Everything" hitmaker, 43, rejected the idea that the "Joyride" artist, 37, was purposely removed from the "Timber" title on YouTube.

"Timber" was featured on Pitbull's 2013 album Meltdown and topped Billboard's Hot 100, US dance club songs, US hot rap songs, US pop airplay charts and more.

".@KeshaRose and I have an incredible song together. Nothing will change this. Team Pitbull is looking into this matter. Always nothing but love for Kesha, Dale!" Pitbull wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), alongside a clip of their 2013 music video.

The "Timber" music video was originally titled “Pitbull – Timber (Official Video) ft. Kesha,” and was changed to “Pitbull – Timber (Official Video)." A credit for the pop star was noticeably omitted and a default thumbnail of the singer was removed.

Kesha's name has since been added back to the title following the backlash, and the video's title now reads, "Pitbull, Kesha - Timber (featuring Kesha - Official Video)."

Fans noticed and shared their outrage about the change on X.

One user wrote, "She might’ve been featured but people know this as a Kesha song more than a Pitbull song. It’s like removing Jesus from the bible."

Another fan pointed out that the "obvious reason" for the credit change was the song was produced by Dr. Luke, whom Kesha was in a decade-long legal battle with.

In December 2023, Variety reported that the "Praying" musician left Kemosabe and RCA Records as well as management following the end of her legal battle with producer Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald in June 2023.

Kesha's departure came nearly six months after the "Woman" performer and Gottwald, 50, agreed to resolve his defamation lawsuit out of court ahead of its scheduled trial — nearly a decade after she first sued the Grammy-winning producer, accusing him of sexual, emotional and physical abuse.

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Ke$ha and Pitbull perform onstage at the 2013 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
Kesha and Pitbull perform onstage at the American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Nov. 24, 2013 in Los Angeles.

Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Following the settlement, both parties shared public statements via Instagram. Kesha claimed she couldn't "recount" the details of the alleged sexual abuse she faced at the hands of Gottwald as he wished her "well" and continued to deny the accusation.

Kesha initially sued Gottwald claiming that he drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2005. He denied the allegations and filed a countersuit the same year. In 2016, Kesha's claims were dismissed by a judge.

One week prior to Gottwald's defamation lawsuit against Kesha was going to trial, the New York Court of Appeals reportedly ruled that he met the qualifications of a public figure, meaning he would have to "prove the allegedly defamatory statements were made with ‘actual malice,'" the court wrote, per Variety.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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