Kesha has revealed the unusual reason she began collecting human teeth, admitting that part of the appeal was because it "freaks out straight men."
The 39-year-old singer opened up about her strange collection during an appearance on the Las Culturistas podcast with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.
"Do you know that I collect teeth?" she said during the episode, before joking: "Send them over."
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Kesha explained that the collection began after she developed a close relationship with her fans, who started sending her their lost teeth.
"The teeth started when I became obsessed with my fans," she said.
"And then someone was like, ‘My child lost their teeth.’ And I was like, ‘Can I have them? Cuz I want to make jewelry out of it,’ and so then I made a necklace and an earring and then a belt and then a crown—the crown's wild. Then I just started collecting them ‘cause it kind of freaks out straight men."
The singer revealed that the unusual pieces are displayed around her home.
"I put it by the door," she said with a laugh.
"I just started putting it all over my home … in little jars."
Kesha. Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock
The collection dates back more than a decade, with many long-time fans remembering when Kesha began asking for teeth on Twitter in 2011, shortly after the release of her debut album Animal, which featured hits including Tik Tok and Your Love Is My Drug.
At the time, she wrote:
"I've received 1 tooth from a fan. I made it into a necklace. But now I really wanna make a fan tooth necklace to wear to an awards show."
She later added:
"So. What I'm getting at is please send me your teeth. I'm dead serious. I need your teeth."
I've received 1 tooth from a fan. I made it into a neclace. But now I really wanna make a fan tooth necklace to wear to an awards show.
— kesha (@KeshaRose) May 17, 2011
The singer even shared a mailing address for fans who wanted to contribute, later claiming she had received 164 teeth.
Kesha's tooth collection also made headlines in 2014, when she was receiving treatment for an eating disorder at a rehabilitation facility.
A message posted from her Twitter account at the time asked fans to send more teeth so she could create art while in treatment.
Kesha. Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock
However, the plan was stopped by the facility, with a representative telling TMZ that they could not accept the items.
"There is always a risk that it could be of bio-hazardous material so we are not able to bring in anything that's real," they said.
Despite the unusual hobby, Kesha has continued to embrace her creative and unconventional style throughout her career, often incorporating bold and unexpected ideas into her music, fashion and artwork.
