Jason Derulo said he understands the criticism over the shark tank installed beneath his living room floor and claimed he is educating himself on the animals’ welfare. However, animal advocates argue the display normalizes keeping sharks as luxury showpieces and sends a damaging message to his audience.
Derulo is also facing unexpected legal scrutiny linked to alleged breaches of contract after he and fellow singer Saweetie reportedly failed to honor their commitment to perform at Japan’s first-ever Afrobeats festival in July 2025.
Jason Derulo is trying to calm criticism over the shark tank installed beneath the living room floor of his Los Angeles mansion.
The singer’s unusual home feature drew scrutiny after he showcased the circular glass aquarium during recent livestream appearances, turning what seemed like a luxury flex into an animal-welfare debate.
Speaking after a June 18 court appearance, Derulo said he understood why people were upset and claimed he had started reaching out to organizations focused on raising awareness.
He also defended the setup, saying the sharks now have more room than before, though he admitted he is still trying to determine the right path forward.
Derulo insisted he never meant to cause harm, describing himself as someone who wants to “do the right thing.”
Derulo And Saweetie Hit With Festival Lawsuit
Nearly a year after Japan hosted its first-ever Afrobeats festival, lawsuits have now been filed against Derulo and Saweetie, who were both among the high-profile artists expected to perform at the event.
The festival was initially planned to include shows in Okinawa, Osaka, and Tokyo, but only the Tokyo edition ultimately went ahead.
The two canceled stops are now being attributed by organizers to “artist and other operational reasons,” with Saweetie and Derulo’s absence believed to have contributed to the disruption.
Both artists have yet to issue official statements in response to the suit, and the timeline for the next court proceedings remains undisclosed for now.
Jason Derulo Refused To Return His Advance
According to filings obtained by Billboard, promoters paid Derulo $200,000 back in 2024 for appearances scheduled at Okinawa Arena and Osaka’s Ookini Arena Maishima during the festival.
However, the singer allegedly failed to inform them that he was already contracted to perform at a different event on the same dates as the Japan shows. This detail was only discovered after the promoters had already made payment.
Following this, they attempted to recover the funds from Derulo, but the singer did not reimburse them despite repeated requests.
“Despite demand, Derulo has refused and continues to refuse to refund plaintiff’s deposit in the sum of $200,000,” read the complaint filed on May 14.
While Saweetie did travel to Tokyo, she allegedly chose to perform at unaffiliated nightclubs instead, despite obtaining her visa through arrangements tied to the promoters’ services.
“Had plaintiffs known the defendants’ true intentions, plaintiffs would never have entered into any performance agreement with Saweetie and her team,” the lawsuit read.
With the lawsuits, the organizers are asking the court to order both artists to refund their advances, which total $300,000. They also plan to seek an additional $300,000 from Derulo and Saweetie each to cover non-refundable venue and promotional expenses.
As for punitive damages, the promoters are seeking millions of dollars, though the exact amounts have yet to be confirmed.
Jason Derulo Faced Separate Harassment Suit
Derulo also courted controversy online over a suit dating back to October 2023, according to Rolling Stone.
At the time, female artist Emaza Dilan, whose real name is Emaza Gibson, sued the singer, claiming sexual harassment in an incident alleged to have occurred while she worked under him. The suit was initially dismissed due to jurisdiction issues but was later refiled in New York.
Derulo has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “completely false and hurtful” in an Instagram post.
In December 2025, he reflected on how the issue had affected his career and said it led him to make a personal decision about working with women.
“I will never be alone in a room with a woman that I work with… ever, ever again,” he said. “There’s truth in every joke. But it’s a sad truth,” he said, per Complex.
