Emaza Gibson, an aspiring musician who signed a recording contract with Jason Derulo, has filed a sexual harassment complaint against the star.
The 25-year-old is alleging that Derulo ended their working relationship after she denied his sexual advances.
Gibson filed her complaint against Derulo, 34, on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming that the “Whatcha Say” singer “maliciously” promised her success, then denied said opportunity.
“Mr. Derulo’s behavior toward this young artist was despicable,” Gibson’s attorney, Ron Zambrano, said in a statement.
The statement added:
“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.”
Derulo’s camp has not commented on the matter yet.
In the complaint against Derulo’s label Future History Inc., and his manager Frank Harris, Gibson claims Derulo first reached out to her in August 2021, saying he was planning to take on a joint venture between Atlantic and Future History, but needed to bring Atlantic a new artist in order to do so.
Gibson also says she “eagerly” accepted the offer to work together, and entered agreements with Derulo, Atlantic and Future History, with the plan being that she’d deliver a mixtape to Atlantic within four months and an album within six, plus a single that featured Derulo.
She says she considered Derulo a “mentor [and] supervisor”, but was taken aback when she was told that in order to succeed in the industry, she had to take part in “goat skin and fish scales,” a reference to sex rituals and cocaine, according to the complaint.
In addition to attorneys’ fees and other litigation expenses, Gibson is seeking damages that cover unpaid wages, loss of earnings, emotional distress and medical expenses. The singer is also demanding a jury trial for the case.
