A woman who accused Jason Derulo of sexual harassment is taking another shot at justice, filing fresh claims against the pop star and Atlantic Records in New York after her initial California case was tossed on jurisdictional grounds.
The Legal Journey Continues
Emaza Gibson, who performs under the stage name Emaza Dilan, first brought her lawsuit to Los Angeles courts back in October 2023. But that effort hit a roadblock when a California judge threw out the case, pointing to contract language that required any legal battles to play out in New York. Now Gibson’s back with the same core accusations, this time filing in Manhattan state court and leaning on New York statutes. Her claims span a troubling range: discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, breach of contract, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
What Gibson Says Happened
The 27-year-old artist paints a picture that started promising but turned dark quickly. She says Derulo slid into her DMs in August 2021, dangling the possibility of signing with his joint venture between Atlantic Records and Future History. The potential for personal mentorship and multi-album collaboration had Gibson excited about her future.
But things allegedly went sideways fast. Gibson’s complaint describes late-night meetings where Derulo pushed alcohol on her and began making sexually charged comments by November 2021. The most serious allegation? That Derulo told Gibson her career advancement hinged on participating in what she calls “ritualistic sex acts.” When she refused, Gibson claims the singer’s attitude shifted dramatically – becoming cold and distant before what she describes as professional retaliation kicked in.
The lawsuit doesn’t stop there. Gibson also accuses Derulo of physical intimidation, claiming he lunged at her while screaming without any clear reason. She says he deliberately sabotaged her music releases and eventually terminated her contract under false pretenses, all because she wouldn’t give in to his alleged advances.
The Fallout and Wider Claims
Gibson’s legal filing characterizes Derulo’s alleged behavior as a textbook abuse of power. When she first went public with these accusations in 2023, Gibson didn’t hide her emotional devastation. “Jason was one of my favorite pop artists,” she told Rolling Stone at the time. “To have this traumatic experience with him has shattered my dreams.” She described the whole situation as “super devastating” – the kind of betrayal that hits particularly hard when it comes from someone you once looked up to.
Derulo’s Corner Stays Quiet
So far, silence from team Derulo. Representatives for the singer, Future History, Atlantic Records, and his longtime manager Frank Harris haven’t responded to media requests for comment on this latest filing. When the original lawsuit surfaced, Derulo pushed back hard, taking to Instagram to call the allegations “completely false and hurtful.”
His legal team previously expressed confidence that New York courts would dismiss any refiled claims, pointing to the California court’s earlier decision. Derulo himself has positioned himself as someone who opposes harassment and supports up-and-coming artists, saying he was “deeply offended by these defamatory claims.”
