Jason Derulo has faced criticism after showcasing a shark aquarium built beneath the living room floor of his $15 million Tarzana, California home, with conservation groups warning that the display risks normalising the keeping of marine animals in domestic settings.
Home Tour Reveals Underfloor Aquarium
The pop singer revealed the circular glass tank during recent home tours with streamer N3ON and journalist Graham Bensinger. The installation allows guests to walk directly over the aquarium, which is maintained by a specialist team attending to it every two days.
Derulo said during the tour that constructing the feature “took a lot” of time and financial investment, highlighting it as one of the centrepieces of the property.
Conservation Groups Speak Out
However, the display has drawn criticism from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which argued that such installations present marine life as decorative luxury items, The Mirror reports.
Christian Plowman, Program Manager for Wildlife Cybercrime at IFAW, said sharks are “facing severe pressures — threatened by overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction, with many species now considered endangered”.
He added that marine animals play a “critical role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems” but are increasingly exploited as “illegal 'exotic' pets”.
Sharks as Status Symbols
Plowman further criticised the portrayal of sharks as “the ultimate status symbol” and warned that treating them as “interior design features” sends a harmful message to audiences.
He stated, “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.”
Legal Considerations
While California restricts ownership of certain species, some smaller non-endangered sharks can still legally be kept in private aquariums under specific conditions.
