A lot of people were moved while watching Kesha sing “Praying” at Sunday night’s 2018 Grammy Awards. But one of them felt an especially close bond to the singer: Rose McGowan. The outspoken actress — who helped open the floodgates of accusers who’ve come out with their stories of alleged sexual assault and harassment against disgraced former studio mogul Harvey Weinstein — told E! News on Tuesday (Jan. 30) that she has nothing but love and respect for Kesha for speaking her mind and speaking out against her alleged abuser.
“Kesha and I were actually in the studio, she was downstairs. We were in the studio recording vocals. Not together, she was downstairs, I was upstairs at the studio,” McGowan told E!, which will debut her documentary series, CITIZEN ROSE, tonight (Jan. 31). “We hung out for a bit, and then I met her at a Humane Society dinner.”
McGowan then praised Kesha for speaking out against her former producer/mentor, Dr. Luke, who she claimed in a lawsuit sexually assaulted her (Dr. Luke has denied the allegations). “Besides her tremendous amount of talent, what a tremendous heart,” McGowan said. “And to go up against the machine. The machine wants you to stop and to shut up. Shut up, go away. Shut up, go away. We won’t shut up and we won’t go away. That’s not your right to tell us when to go. Nobody, nobody gets that. I’m proud of her.”
It was the second time this week that McGowan had kind words for Kesha, following up on props she gave the singer for her “extaordinary voice” on the Grammys, where Kesha performed a dramatic version of “Praying” with a chorus of backup singers that included Bebe Rexha, Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Julia Michaels and Andra Day.
Sing it for all of us @KeshaRose Thank you for your extraordinary voice. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/OROi0C1qO0
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) January 29, 2018
CITIZEN ROSE premiers tonight on E! at 8 p.m. ET.