Aspiring artist Emaza Gibson filed a complaint alleging she was dropped from Derulo's label after refusing his sexual advances.
Jason Derulo, an artist known for hits like "Whatcha Say" and "Savage Love," is being sued over claims of quid pro quo sexual harassment by an aspiring singer who alleges that she was dropped from his label after refusing his sexual advances, which Derulo calls "completely false and hurtful."
In a complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday and viewed by EW, Emaza Gibson outlines several allegations against Derulo, his manager Frank Harris, Atlantic Records, and Derulo's Future History Inc., including quid pro quo sexual harassment, failure to prevent and/or remedy work environment harassment, breach of contract, and more.
The lawsuit also lists Radio Corporation of America DBA as "RCA Records," but the Radio Corporation of America is a former electronics company that is separate from Sony Music's RCA Records and neither company seems to have a working relationship with Derulo or his company.
"Mr. Derulo's behavior toward this young artist was despicable and, unfortunately, another example of the music industry's dark underbelly," attorney Ron Zambrano said in a statement to EW. "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. Executives knew of Derulo's behavior without a care. 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."
Representatives for Derulo, Atlantic Records, and RCA Records did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment, but a representative for the singer issued a statement to PEOPLE denying the allegations. "These claims are completely false and hurtful," the statement reads. "I stand against all forms of harassment and remain committed to supporting people chasing their dreams. I strive to live my life in a positively-impacting way, so I am deeply offended by these defamatory allegations."
In the complaint Gibson claims Derulo contacted her in August 2021 and said he was planning to participate in a joint venture between Atlantic and Future History, but that he needed to bring a new artist to Atlantic in order to do so. She accepted the offer and entered into agreements with Derulo, Atlantic Records, and Future History, concluding that she would deliver a mixtape in four months and an album in six months, and make a song that would feature Derulo.
The pair began working on her album in November, with Derulo acting as Gibson's "mentor, supervisor, as well as the agent" for Atlantic Records and Future History, per the suit. During one session, Gibson alleges that Derulo told her that "if she wanted to be successful in 'this business' (a.k.a., the music industry)" that she "would be required to partake in 'goat skin and fish scales,' which is a Haitian reference referring to conducting sex rituals, sacrificing a goat, goat blood, and doing cocaine," according to the complaint.
"The manner and timing of such a statement meant DERULO was demanding sexual acts from Plaintiff in order for DERULO to fulfill his role as her mentor, supervisor, and musical collaborator," the complaint claims. "This explicit demand for sex-in-exchange-for-success was reinforced through DERULO's subsequent behavior."
Gibson claims that Derulo "repeatedly invited" her to have drinks with him at a members-only lounge, but that she refused because she wanted to "keep their relationship purely professional." The complaint also alleges that Derulo would often schedule the pair's recording sessions at "late-night hours between 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.," and "constantly pressured Plaintiff to drink with him despite Plaintiff repeatedly expressing she's not a drinker."
The complaint continued, "As a pretext, DERULO would 'assure' Plaintiff he would arrange for an Uber to take her home."
Gibson says she felt like she had "no choice but to accept the offer from the person that was essentially her boss" and took a sip from Derulo's drink during an alleged encounter in September 2021. "Immediately, Plaintiff tasted inappropriately large amounts of alcohol, and told DERULO that the 'drink was too strong,'" the complaint reads. "After this session, where Plaintiff declined to drink and have sex with DERULO, the offer to arrange for Plaintiff to get to and from DERULO's studio ceased."
The lawsuit also claims that Derulo yelled at Gibson on two separate occasions, the first taking place after a meeting with Atlantic Records to discuss her career. In the complaint, Gibson claims another female artist named Rosa was also invited and, when she later admitted in the car ride to being "thrown off guard" by her presence, Derulo allegedly grew angry.
"DERULO immediately lost control and began aggressively hitting his arm rests screaming, 'What does she have to do with you?! We weren't going to tell you anything! We don't have to tell you anything!'" the complaint stated, noting that after the incident, Gibson insisted that her mother and manager Sandra Bales "travel with her to any future meetings or sessions with DERULO out of concern for her own safety."
After the car ride and meeting in New York, Gibson claims that Derulo went "radio silent" and did not respond to her text messages, which is how they often communicated. According to court documents, they reunited for another recording session in June 2022, when Gibson allegedly drew his ire again by showing up an hour late due to traffic.
"When Plaintiff arrived at the recording studio, DERULO immediately charged at Plaintiff in front of Bales, the videographer, Plaintiff's engineer, and DERULO's all-male staff, and lunged at her causing her to step back and clutched her chest to brace herself for DERULO to physically assault her," reads the complaint. "DERULO screamed within inches of Plaintiff's face, 'I don't know who you think you are! You're supposed to be here before me! You need to plan better!'"
The lawsuit claims that Derulo "realized the aggressive manner" of his approach and then attempted to give Gibson a hug. She "raced to the bathroom, where she proceeded to cry" and was later told by one of Derulo's engineers that his actions were "just tough love."
Gibson continued to record music without Derulo until September 2022, when she was notified that "her employment with ATLANTIC and FUTURE was being terminated effective immediately," and was told that the reason behind the decision was that they wanted her to be "happy," per the documents. She claims that she attempted to reach out to the presidents of Atlantic Records, Craig Kallman and Julie Greenwald, but was told that "they're not going to have a conversation with you."
The lawsuit added that "no one has ever reached out to address" Gibson's allegations of Derulo's "sexually, emotionally, and physically inappropriate behavior towards her."
As a result of the defendants' conduct, Gibson claims she "required medical intervention for breakdowns, weight loss, insomnia, mood swings, hopelessness, loss of motivation, betrayal," and "feelings of betrayal and deception" and was diagnosed with "post-traumatic stress disorder." She is demanding a trial by jury and seeking punitive damages, special damages, further relief, and for the defendants to cover her legal fees.