KESHA FINALLY RELEASES "BACKSTABBER" MUSIC VIDEO — 17 YEARS AFTER IT WAS FILMED

Kesha has finally released the music video for "Backstabber" — 17 years after it was filmed in downtown LA in 2009.

The 17-Year Journey

The video was filmed in downtown Los Angeles in 2009, with Kesha appearing alongside friends including drag queen Detox, working from a script Kesha wrote herself. It then sat unreleased for 17 years before finally premiering on Monday, October 26, 2026. In her own words: "I've never shown ANYONE this video before until now. I just posted it on YouTube after 17 years of it sitting on my laptop."

Why Not Sooner?

Kesha had wanted "Backstabber" to be her debut single, but the label chose "TiK ToK" instead. On why the video stayed shelved for so long, she offered only this: "that's a longggg storyyyyyyy." The full reason remains undisclosed.

Knife-Shaped Vinyl

Alongside the video, a knife-shaped vinyl of "Backstabber" is available for pre-order, and Kesha has signed a limited run of "scratched up" copies for collectors.

Watch the Official Video

Watch the official "Backstabber" music video below:

FAQ

When was the Backstabber video filmed?
The video was filmed in downtown Los Angeles in 2009, with Kesha's friends and drag queen Detox appearing alongside her.

Why was it never released?
Kesha has not shared the full story, saying only "that's a longggg storyyyyyyy." The clip sat on her laptop for 17 years.

What is the knife vinyl?
A knife-shaped vinyl edition of "Backstabber" that is available for pre-order, including a limited run of "scratched up" copies signed by Kesha.

Which album is Backstabber from?
"Backstabber" is the opening track of Kesha's debut album Animal (2010).

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