A young influencer and aspiring musician has filed a lawsuit against Jason Derulo, accusing him of sexual harassment, intimidation, and breach of contract. The complaint was first filed on Thursday, October 5, by Emaza Gibson in Los Angeles Superior Court.
"It's very heartbreaking. I have anxiety; I'm traumatized. I've dealt with inhumane work situations ... I'm at this point where I'm back to zero and I have nothing," Gibson told NBC News in a previous interview.
After Gibson signed with Derulo's Future History, a label linked with Atlantic Records, she alleges that the Whatcha Say singer made sexual attempts toward her and subsequently dumped her after she refused. By August 2021, Gibson had officially joined Derulo's camp.
Alleged Sexual Attempts
According to court documents obtained by Vulture, the lawsuit alleges that Derulo told the plaintiff during a recording session that she needed to engage in "goat skin and fish scales" in order to be successful in the music industry. The phrase is Haitian for performing sex rituals, sacrificing a goat, drinking goat blood, and doing cocaine.
The lawsuit claims Derulo's actions reinforced the stated demand for sex in return for fame and fortune.
Gibson is not a heavy drinker, but she caved to Derulo's invitation for drinks in September 2021 at a recording studio and claims he poured her an inappropriate quantity of alcohol. Gibson's concerns about Derulo's motives were validated when, during a 2021 November business trip to New York to see Atlantic officials, another female artist appeared to advise Gibson to sleep with him to boost her career.
Derulo is also accused of raising his voice at Gibson and refusing to record with her, among other acts of antagonism.
'Completely False and Hurtful'
On Friday, October 6, Derulo responded to the claims with an Instagram post.
He called the allegations "completely false and hurtful." He added, "I stand against all forms of harassment and I remain supportive of anybody following their dreams. I've always strived to live my life in a positively impactful way, and that's why I sit here before you deeply offended, by these defamatory claims. God bless."
Rob Zambrano, who is also leading Lizzo's sexual harassment complaint, represents Gibson. In her lawsuit against Derulo, she wants a trial in front of a judge and jury.
According to The Cut, Gibson claims she tried to report Derulo's alleged misbehavior to Atlantic's human resources team but received no response until being let go from both Atlantic and Future History in September 2022. She is suing for compensation after claiming she was subjected to sexual harassment at work, that her contract was breached, that no action was taken to stop the harassment, and that a civil rights law in California was violated.
