A 25-year-old singer accuses pop star Jason Derulo of sexual harassment. She claims that he pressured her to engage in sexual activities and consume alcohol after signing her to his record label. However, when she refused his advances, he dropped her from the label, depriving her of resources to complete and promote her album.
In her lawsuit filed on Thursday, Emaza Gibson alleges that Derulo used physical aggression to intimidate her when she insisted on maintaining a strictly professional relationship. Despite promising to collaborate on multiple albums, Derulo refused to record with her once she rejected his advances.
Gibson told HuffPost, “I worked really hard. I shouldn’t have to sleep with anybody to secure a deal.”
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Gibson claims that Derulo acted as her mentor and supervising agent. He had secured a deal for her with Atlantic Records and his own label, Future History. However, before they even recorded any music, Derulo allegedly advised Gibson to participate in questionable activities such as “goat skin and fish scales,” which she interpreted as sex rituals and drug use.
According to the lawsuit, Derulo repeatedly invited Gibson to dinner and drinks but she refused, wanting to keep their relationship purely professional. However, at the studio, he pressured her to drink alcohol despite her stating that she doesn’t drink.
Gibson met with Derulo and Atlantic executives in November 2021, where another woman alleged that Derulo invited Gibson to the meeting with the intention of having sex with her. When Gibson confronted Derulo about this, he lost control and became aggressive.
Throughout their working relationship, Gibson claimed that Derulo often yelled at her and exhibited aggressive behavior. She recounted an incident in June 2022 when he yelled and charged towards her. This caused her distress, and she ran to the bathroom in tears.
The day after the incident, Gibson’s mother contacted Derulo’s manager, Frank Harris, who responded dismissively. Harris and Atlantic Records, both named in the lawsuit, did not provide a comment.
Gibson said that Derulo’s aggression has made her feel uncomfortable around other men. Her attorney, Ron Zambrano, condemned Derulo’s behavior and referred to it as an example of the music industry’s dark underbelly.
Zambrano stated, “No one should have to suffer through such treatment by their employer, and in this case, by someone who preyed on the plaintiff’s vulnerabilities and desire to succeed, then just threw her away like garbage when he didn’t get his way.”
Gibson is seeking a jury trial and compensation for various damages, including lost wages, legal fees, and medical expenses related to emotional distress.
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