Entertainment
Published October 5, 2023, 1:09 p.m. ET
Singer Emaza Gibson claims Jason Derulo promised her a record deal but then pressured her into sex in exchange for career advancement – as accused in a bombshell lawsuit.
“I’m just at this point in my life, it’s very heartbreaking,” Gibson, 25, told NBC News on Wednesday.
Gibson moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to pursue a music career as the musical act Ceraadi alongside her sisters Saiyr and Znuie. Her YouTube channel has over 1 million subscribers.
Gibson’s sisters no longer work in the music industry, but Gibson hoped for a solo career.
In a lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Gibson claims that Derulo eventually backed out of her deal after she rejected his sexual advances and dinner and drink invitations.
In return, Gibson accused the “Watcha Say” singer of sexual harassment.
“I’m afraid; I’m traumatized. I’m struggling with inhumane work situations… I’m at a point where I’m back to square one and have nothing left,” she said.
According to the lawsuit, Jason Derulo approached Gibson to finance a project between his music label Future History and Atlantic Records. Getty Images for Welcome America, Inc.
According to the lawsuit, Derulo approached Gibson in August 2021 about participating in a project between his music label Future History and Atlantic Records.
The filing also said her contract required her to have a single with Derulo and produce a mixtape in four months and an album in six months.
She began working with Derulo to create music to present to Atlantic Records executives, she said.
During this time, Derulo often invited her to a members-only lounge for drinks and dinner. She declined these invitations in hopes of keeping their relationship professional, she claimed.
According to the lawsuit, he also began inviting her to drink during their studio sessions.
“I’m afraid; I’m traumatized. I’m dealing with inhumane work situations… I’m at the point where I’m back to square one and have nothing left,” said Emaza Gibson. emaza/Instagram
In September 2021, she agreed to have a drink with Derulo in the studio and was given “inappropriately large amounts of alcohol,” the lawsuit says.
“I told him I’m not a drinker … so it’s like you don’t listen the first time I tell you and you’re still pushing me,” Gibson said. “There’s a bit of pressure at this point.”
In November 2021, Gibson traveled to New York City to meet with Atlantic executives and finalize her deal.
Before the meeting, Derulo reportedly told Gibson that a woman named Rosa would be joining them.
In a lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Emaza Gibson claims that Jason Derulo ultimately backed out of her deal after she rejected his sexual advances and dinner and drink invitations. Getty Images
According to the lawsuit, the woman told Gibson that Derulo invited her because he was doing “some damn shit,” suggesting that Derulo had an intimate relationship with Rosa. Derulo then presented Rosa’s music, the lawsuit says.
Gibson saw this as a sign of Rosa’s career advancement, “because you’re sleeping with his buddy,” she said.
“I noticed that too because, okay, she’s making progress,” she said.
The filler states that when Gibson commented on being “thrown off” by Rosa, Derulo “lost control and aggressively punched his armrests, screaming, ‘What does she have to do with you?'” We didn’t want you say! We don’t have to tell you anything!'” After that exchange, he then reportedly went “radio silent” by not assigning Gibson a project manager for her work and ignoring messages.
Aspiring singer Emaza Gibson was dropped from Atlantic on September 6, 2022. emaza/Instagram
According to the lawsuit, Gibson spoke to an Atlantic executive who said, “The Atlantic team wants you to win, but I can’t say the same for Jason.”
Gibson was deported from Atlantic on September 6, 2022.
Gibson’s attorney, Ron Zambrano, said Derulo “not only broke promises and violated contracts, but his threats of physical violence and unconscionable sexual advances toward this young woman trying to break into the industry were outrageous and illegal.”
The Post has reached out to Jason Derulo and Atlantic Records for comment.
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