Jason Derulo Sued by Aspiring Singer Who Claims Star Expected ‘Sex in Exchange for Success’

An aspiring musician who signed a recording contract with Jason Derulo has filed a sexual harassment grievance in opposition to the star, alleging that he ended their working relationship after she denied his sexual advances.

Emaza Gibson, 25, filed her grievance in opposition to Derulo, 34, on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Courtroom, claiming that the “Whatcha Say” singer “maliciously” promised her success, then denied stated alternative.

“Mr. Derulo’s habits towards this younger artist was despicable,” Gibson’s legal professional, Ron Zambrano, stated in a press release. “He not solely broke guarantees and breached contracts, however his threats of bodily hurt and unconscionable sexual advances towards this younger lady who’s simply making an attempt to interrupt into the business have been outrageous and unlawful.”

A rep for Derulo didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for remark, nor did reps for Atlantic, RCA and Harris.

Within the grievance — which was obtained by PEOPLE and likewise names Atlantic Information, RCA Information, Derulo’s label Future Historical past Inc., and his supervisor Frank Harris — Gibson claims Derulo first reached out to her in August 2021, saying he was planning to tackle a three way partnership between Atlantic and Future Historical past, however wanted to carry Atlantic a brand new artist so as to take action.

Gibson says she “eagerly” accepted the provide to work collectively, and entered agreements with Derulo, Atlantic and Future Historical past, with the plan being that she’d ship a mixtape to Atlantic inside 4 months and an album inside six, plus a single that featured Derulo.

She says she thought of Derulo a “mentor [and] supervisor” — however was shocked when she was advised that with the intention to succeed within the business, she had to participate in “goat pores and skin and fish scales,” a reference to intercourse rituals and cocaine, in keeping with the grievance.

“The style and timing of such a press release meant that Derulo was demanding sexual acts from [Gibson] to ensure that Derulo to meet his position as her mentor, supervisor and musical collaborator,” the grievance claims. “This express demand for sex-in-exchange-for-success was bolstered by Derulo’s subsequent habits.”

In an interview with NBC Information, Gibson stated she needed to search on-line what “goat pores and skin” meant and was “looking for and make sense of what it was” when she got here throughout articles indicating it concerned intercourse, goat sacrifices and blood.

Within the grievance, Gibson says she and Derulo texted usually to schedule recording classes and conferences, and that he repeatedly invited her to drinks and dinner. Gibson says she didn’t need to meet with the star outdoors of knowledgeable setting, and requested as an alternative to satisfy within the recording studio, at which level she claims Derulo requested if she’d have a drink with him within the studio.

She alleges he’d “always” stress her to drink with him throughout recording classes, and he or she’d inform him that she wasn’t “a drinker,” prompting him to “guarantee” her he’d name her an Uber residence.

Gibson claims that in September 2021, throughout a late-night recording session, Derulo once more requested her to have a drink with him, and he or she “reluctantly” obliged, although she felt the drink was too sturdy and allegedly advised him so.

“After this session, the place [Gibson] declined to drink and have intercourse with Derulo, the provide to rearrange for [Gibson] to get to and from Derulo’s studio ceased,” the grievance says.

The grievance additionally makes notice of one other incident from November 2021, throughout which Derulo and Gibson met with the presidents of Atlantic to debate her profession. Gibson claims Derulo invited one other lady into the assembly on the final minute, as he allegedly hoped to have intercourse together with her, and that he later grew offended with Gibson after she advised him and Harris that she was “thrown off guard” by the girl’s presence within the assembly. She says that after the incident, her mom, who can be her supervisor, traveled together with her to all future conferences with Derulo “out of concern for her personal security.”

Gibson says Derulo ultimately stopped speaking together with her, and was advised in September 2022 that her employment with Atlantic and Future Historical past had been terminated.

The grievance alleges Gibson required medical intervention for breakdowns, weight reduction, insomnia, temper swings and extra, and that she sought psychological well being therapy and was identified with post-traumatic stress dysfunction.

She is suing for sexual harassment, breach of contract, unlawful retaliatory termination and extra.