Kesha’s Name Back in Credits For Pitbull’s ‘Timber’ Video After Mr. Worldwide Said He Was ‘Looking Into’ Reports of Removal
Kesha fans were sent for a loop on Sunday (Aug. 18) after claims that the “Eat the Acid” singer’s name was removed from the video credits of Pitbull‘s 2013 hit “Timber.” According to screenshots posted on Reddit of what appeared to be the altered credentials for the visual for the single from Mr. Worldwide’s Meltdown EP, whose hook is sung by Kesha, her name looked like it was scrubbed.
But a check of the credits for the song on Monday morning (Aug. 19) showed that the song is credited to both the artists, with Kesha’s former stage name (Ke$ha) also listed as a feature in the official video title. According to reports, for an unknown period of time on Sunday, the video, which has more than 1.5 billion views to date, was amended to read “Pitbull – Timber (Official Video).”
In a statement posted on Sunday afternoon to X, Pitbull sent a direct message to Kesha assuring her that he was looking into the reports. “@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!”
At press time spokespeople for Kesha and YouTube had not returned Billboard‘s request for additional comment and a spokesperson for Pitbull had also not responded to a request for clarification. The statement from Pitbull appeared to come after Kesha fans flooded social feeds on Sunday with anger over the apparent erasure of her significant contribution to the song which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks.
Many fans speculated that the removal could have been tied to Kesha’s yearslong feud with the song’s main producer, Dr. Luke (born Lukasz Gottwald), whom she sued in 2014 alleging that he sexually, mentally and emotionally abused her; Dr. Luke denied all the allegations and filed a defamation suit in response, with the two settling of court in 2023 just before a trail was set.
Watch the “Timber” video and Pitbull’s message to Kesha below.
Gil Kaufman
Billboard
