Jason Derulo has responded to the criticism surrounding the shark tank installed beneath the living room floor of his Los Angeles mansion.
The “Ridin’ Solo” singer was approached by cameras after leaving a court appearance on June 18. While stopping to sample a burrito from a street vendor, Derulo also addressed the growing backlash over the aquarium, which was featured during streaming appearances earlier this year inside his $15 million home in Tarzana, California.
“I heard the backlash. I understand the backlash. And I’ve been doing my part to reach out to a lot of different companies that are trying to raise awareness on different things,” Derulo said.
Derulo said he has been educating himself about shark welfare in response to the criticism. He also noted that the aquarium in his home is “a lot larger” than the tank the sharks were previously kept in.
“So it’s figuring out the best way forward,” he added.
“I never intend on doing anything negative in my life,” Derulo continued. “I’m always the positive person. I always want to do the right thing. So I’m thankful for everybody pointing me in the right direction.”
During a tour of his home with streamer N3on last month, Derulo explained that installing the aquarium was a major undertaking. He said the project required custom construction, as well as ongoing maintenance to regulate the tank’s salt and oxygen levels.
“Basically, I got someone who makes pools to do the shell of it, and then I had the aquarium people put it all together,” he said during the stream.
Not everyone has been convinced by Derulo’s explanation. Christian Plowman, Program Manager of Wildlife Cybercrime at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), criticized the display, describing it as the “ultimate status symbol.”
“Normalizing the ownership of sharks in a domestic tank sends a damaging message to audiences around the world. If Derulo genuinely cares about these animals, he could use his platform as a powerful force for good,” Plowman said.
Under California law, freshwater sharks and river stingrays are prohibited as pets. However, certain smaller, non-endangered shark species are legally allowed to be kept in private aquariums.
