Jason Derulo in Miami in December 2019.Photo:Alexander Tamargo/Getty
Alexander Tamargo/Getty
Jason Derulohas broken his silence on thesexual harassment complaint filed against him.
“I wouldn’t normally comment, but these claims are completely false and hurtful,” the “Whatcha Say” singer said in the video, recording himself in what appears to be a dressing room and wearing a printed denim jacket and shirt.
In the caption of the post, he shared a transcript of his statement.
A rep for Derulo denied the allegations in a statement shared with PEOPLE, which is the same statement the singer later shared publicly on Instagram.
In the complaint, Gibson claims Derulo reached out to her in August 2021 when he said he needed to bring a new artist to Atlantic Records in order to take on a new joint venture between the label and his Future History imprint.
Jason Derulo.Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic
Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic
Gibson says she “eagerly” accepted the offer to work with theCatsactor, and entered agreements with Derulo, Atlantic and Future History, with the plan being that within four months she would deliver a mixtape to Atlantic and an album within six, in addition to a single featuring Derulo.
In the documents, Gibsons says she considered Derulo a “mentor [and] supervisor” — but, after texting regularly to schedule recording sessions and work meetings, was caught off guard when he began repeatedly inviting her to drinks and dinner. The plaintiff says she did not want to meet with the recording artist outside of a professional setting and would instead suggest to meet at the studio, at which point she claims Derulo asked if she’d have a drink with him in the studio.
She alleges he’d “constantly” pressure her to drink with him during recording sessions, despite her saying she wasn’t “a drinker,” prompting him to “assure” her he’d call her an Uber home.
Gibson claims that during a late-night recording session in September 2021, Derulo again asked her to have a drink with him, and she “reluctantly” obliged, though she felt the drink was too strong and allegedly told him so.
The complaint reads, “After this session, where [Gibson] declined to drink and have sex with Derulo, the offer to arrange for [Gibson] to get to and from Derulo’s studio ceased.”
“Mr. Derulo’s behavior toward this young artist was despicable,” Zambrano said in a statement. “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.”
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Gibson says Derulo eventually ceased communication, and was told in September 2022 that her employment with Atlantic and Future History had been terminated.
The suit also names Radio Corporation of America DBA “RCA Records,” though Radio Corporation of America is a defunct electronics company that’s a separate entity from Sony Music’s RCA Records, which does not appear to have a current contractual relationship with Derulo or Future History.
source: people.com
