American singer Jason Derulo is facing criticism after revealing that he keeps sharks inside his luxury California mansion. Animal welfare organizations have accused the artist of promoting the idea of turning wild animals into household pets.
According to reports from Page Six, Derulo has become the center of controversy after showing off a custom-built shark tank reportedly worth $1 million inside his mansion in Tarzana, California.
The Whatcha Say singer previously gave YouTuber N3on a tour of his $15 million property, where he revealed a specially designed aquarium embedded beneath the floor of his living room. The circular tank features a glass surface that guests can walk across while sharks and stingrays swim underneath.
The 36-year-old artist explained that building the tank required significant time and investment. He hired a company specializing in swimming pools to construct the structure, while aquarium experts completed the filtration and aquatic systems. To maintain the habitat, Derulo said a professional team visits his home every other day to monitor water quality and clean the tank.
However, after clips of the aquarium spread across TikTok and other social media platforms, backlash quickly followed.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) publicly criticized the setup, arguing that celebrities displaying sharks in private homes could normalize the trend of keeping wild animals as pets or decorative attractions. Christian Plowman, manager of IFAW’s wildlife cybercrime program, also referenced a case involving the seizure of more than 700 illegally traded marine animals in Argentina as an example of the broader issue.
IFAW further urged the public not to like, share, or engage with content that normalizes owning wild animals as pets. According to the organization, every interaction contributes to social media algorithms, indirectly fueling demand for wildlife trade.
Social media users also voiced strong opinions. One commenter described the situation as “cruel,” while another wrote, “Being rich can be depressing.” Despite the criticism, California law still allows the ownership of certain smaller shark species that are not endangered in private aquariums. However, animal rights groups have long opposed the practice.
Born in 1989, Jason Derulo is an American singer, songwriter, and actor best known for his breakthrough hit Whatcha Say.
Over the years, Derulo has accumulated billions of streams worldwide with global hits including Savage Love, Swalla, Talk Dirty, Trumpets, and Wiggle.
Sources: Znews
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