Why Is Jason Derulo getting sued?
Jason Derulo signed Emaza Gibson under his Atlantic Records imprint Future History in August 2021 and dropped her in September 2022 after she declined his sexual advances.
Gibson filed seven complaints against the defendants including quid pro quo sexual harassment, sexual harassment, failure to prevent and/or remedy harassment, retaliation, intimidation and violence, breach of contract and breach of good faith. She is also suing Frank Harris (Derulo’s manager), Atlantic Records, Future History, and RCA Records for allegedly ignoring her complaints.
When Gibson came to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming a musician, she considered Derulo a “mentor [and] supervisor” — but, after texting regularly to schedule recording sessions and work meetings, she was caught off guard when he began inviting her to drinks and dinner constantly.
Derulo also allegedly told Gibson participate in “goat skin and fish scales,” a Haitian reference to the practice of conducting sex rituals, sacrificing a goat and taking cocaine. She alleges he’d “constantly” pressure her to drink with him during recording sessions, and she’d tell him that she wasn’t “a drinker,”
“The manner and timing of such a statement meant that Derulo was demanding sexual acts from (Gibson) in order for Derulo to fulfill his role as her mentor, supervisor and musical collaborator,” the lawsuit reads.
In 2021, Gibson “reluctantly” agreed to drink with Derulo during a studio session. “After this session, where [Gibson] declined to drink and have sex with Derulo, the offer to arrange for [Gibson] to get to and from Derulo’s studio ceased.”
“Mr. Derulo’s behavior toward this young artist was despicable,” Zambrano said in a statement. “He not only broke promises and breached contracts, but his threats of physical harm and unconscionable sexual advances toward this young woman who is just trying to break into the industry were outrageous and illegal.”
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, free and confidential help is available. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 1-800-656-4673.
