Content Warning: This article about Jerry Harris getting arrested discusses sexual assault, and rape. If you or someone you know are affected by the following story, you are not alone. To speak to someone, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
In what is an ongoing investigation by the FBI, Cheer star Jerry Harris has been arrested and charged with producing child pornography.
Earlier this week, The Brag reported that Jerry Harris, star of Netflix’s Cheer, was being investigated by the FBI for inappropriate sexual conduct against minors.
In a new development, Harris has now been arrested and charged with one count of producing child pornography, according to a complaint filed at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois. The 21-year-old star was arrested earlier on Thursday and is due in court.
According to reports, Harris allegedly contacted two minors on social media and solicited sexually explicit photographs and videos from them. The complaint also includes a statement from one of victims, who recalls telling Harris that he was 13 years old at the time of their initial chat.
A copy of the full complaint available online also contains notes from an interview with Harris conducted at his residence. In the same, he admits to sending and receiving sexually explicit photos and videos with two minors. He also admits to engaging in oral and anal sex with another minor at a cheer-leading event in 2019.
Harris and three cheer organizations have also been named in a lawsuit filed by the mother of one of the victims.
In a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter, the mother’s representative said: “We are grateful that the U.S. Attorney and the FBI have taken swift action to protect children by investigating, arresting and charging Jerry Harris.
“This was made possible because our clients’ mother had the courage to report Harris to the FBI as well as the Fort Worth Police Department and provided evidentiary proof of the manipulation, sexual harassment, abuse, and exploitation that her sons had suffered.”
Calling for an investigation into the practices of cheer organizations, the statement said: “We urge the authorities to undertake a thorough investigation of the United States All-Star Federation, Varsity Spirit, and Cheer Athletics to determine which of their executives, employees, and representatives could have stopped Harris’ abuse and failed to do so.”
The allegations against Harris first surfaced in a report by USA Today. In a statement to Variety, his representatives later denied the allegations: “We categorically dispute the claims made against Jerry Harris, which are alleged to have occurred when he was a teenager. We are confident that when the investigation is completed the true facts will be revealed.”
