Jason Derulo has been criticized by an animal welfare organization after he revealed his at-home shark tank.
Last month, the “Watcha Say” singer, 36, showed his shark and stingray tank to YouTuber N3on on a recorded tour of his $15 million Tarzana, California home. In the video, he revealed that he lets his son name the animals.
The circular tank is positioned underground as the living room’s centerpiece and covered by glass, allowing people to walk above it and see the animals swimming below.
The video drew criticism from an animal welfare organization, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, after it circulated online.
“Normalising the ownership of sharks in a domestic tank sends a damaging message to audiences around the world,” said IFAW’s Christian Plowman, via The Mirror.
“Sharks are facing severe pressures — threatened by overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction, with many species now considered endangered. They play a critical role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems,” said Plowman.
“The recent seizure of more than 700 trafficked marine animals in Argentina is a stark reminder that the illegal ‘exotic’ pet trade extends far beyond the species most people think of. Sharks, rays and other marine animals are increasingly being targeted to satisfy demand for home aquariums and luxury displays.”
Plowman highlighted that sharks had become a status symbol among the wealthy. “When celebrities and influencers with millions of followers treat wild animals as interior design features, the consequences reach far beyond their living rooms,” he said.
His statement continued: “IFAW urges the public not to like, share or engage with content that normalises the keeping of wild animals as pets. Every interaction feeds the algorithm — and ultimately, the trade.”
It is legal to keep certain smaller, non-endangered shark species as pets in California, provided they are kept in properly sized aquariums, though animal campaigners often argue that this is still unethical.
Speaking about the process of getting the tank installed in his home, Derulo told the streamer it took “a lot” of time and money.
“Basically, I got someone who makes pools to do the shell of it, and then I had the aquarium people put it all together. Then I had a different floor that didn’t show the sharks well enough, so I decided to go for white [background],” he said.
He added that a team from the aquarium comes to his home every two days to monitor the water and clean it.
The singer has also been subject to criticism from online critics, who argued it was a “cruel” way to keep the animals and that the enclosure was too small.
“That’s not even close to the size of a tank these sharks need. Send them free,” said one person on TikTok. “It’s wrong,” said another. The Independent has contacted Derulo’s representatives for comment.
