Attorneys representing a record label owned by Jason Derulo are asking a judge to remove them as a defendant in a lawsuit by a woman who alleges the singer signed her to his record company, then later threatened and fired her in 2022 after she resisted his sexual advances.
Emaza Gibson claims in her Los Angeles Superior Court suit that Derulo hired her in 2021 and “promised to make multiple music albums” with her as part of a joint venture with Atlantic Recording Corp. and his label, Future History, which were named as co-defendants.
Gibson was fired in September 2022, the suit states, and was never able to get a response from Atlantic executives about her allegations of “sexually, emotionally and physically inappropriate behavior.”
In April, Lawyers for Derulo convinced Judge Kerry Bensinger that the parts of the case against the 34-year-old “Wiggle” singer and Atlantic Recording should have been brought in New York state rather than in California.
“The artist agreement and the inducement agreement, both signed by plaintiff, each provide that they are deemed to have been made in New York, that they are governed by New York law and that the federal or state courts located in New York County have sole and exclusive jurisdiction of any action related to the agreements,” attorneys for Derulo and the record label stated in their court papers.
The judge dismissed all allegations against Derulo and Atlantic Recording in Gibson’s case, although her attorney said they would be refiled in New York.
Future History remains part of the Los Angeles Superior Court suit. On Friday, attorneys for the two entities stated in new court papers that the seven causes of action against Future History, including sexual harassment, retaliation and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, should be dismissed. A hearing is scheduled July 24.
“Plaintiff makes conclusory allegations that plaintiff was employed by Future History,” the company’s attorneys state in their court papers. “These allegations are insufficient to allege an actionable employee-employer relationship.”
Moreover, there are no specific allegations that Gibson was ever employed by Future History showing, for example, payment of wages, the company’s lawyers further state in their pleadings.
“More importantly, plaintiff admits in her previously filed (court papers) that the agreements do not establish an employment relationship,” according to the Future History attorneys’ court papers.
Derulo and Atlantic have denied Gibson’s allegations. They note, for example, that Gibson alleges Derulo told her that in order to be successful in the music industry, an artist needs to partake in “goat skin and fish scales.” Both are slang phrases in which “goat skin” means to drink alcohol and “fish scales” refers to cocaine, according to the Derulo-Atlantic attorneys’ court papers.
“Ignoring the actual meanings of the words, plaintiff offers only the conclusory assertion that `goat skin’ instead refers to a sexual ritual involving goat’s blood and that she understood that Mr. Derulo was propositioning her for sex,” the defense attorneys further state in their court papers. “Her false allegation as to the meaning of two specifically defined phrases is ridiculous on its face and does not need to be accepted by the court.”
Further, there are no allegations that anyone at Atlantic mistreated Gibson, nor does she allege that Derulo was Atlantic’s employee or agent, the Derulo-Atlantic lawyers maintain.
“In the end, none of the alleged conduct constitutes sexual harassment, violence or intimidation…,” the defense attorneys argue in their court papers.
But according to Gibson’s lawsuit, “goat skin and fish scales” is a Haitian reference referring to conducting sex rituals, sacrificing a goat, goat blood and doing cocaine.