Jerry Harris (television personality)

Jeremiah Harris (born July 14, 1999) is an American cheerleader and television personality. He received national recognition after appearing in the 2020 Netflix docuseries Cheer.[2][3][4] He became famous for his eccentric personality.[5] In September 2020, and again in December 2020, he was charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with production of child pornography.

Jerry Harris
Born
Jeremiah Harris

(1999-07-14) July 14, 1999[1]
Hinsdale, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materNavarro College

Early life and education

Harris was born in Hinsdale, Illinois and raised in Bolingbrook, Illinois.[6] When he was 16 years old, his mother died from lung cancer.[7][8] He attended Waubonsie Valley High School[9] followed by Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, where he was member of the cheer team coached by Monica Aldama.[10] During the finale of Cheer, he received a Regional Scholars Award from the University of Louisville. He attended the school for the fall semester, but ultimately returned to Navarro College.[11][12]

Career

In January 2020, he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, along with other members of the Cheer team.[13][14][15] In February 2020, DeGeneres announced that Harris would be The Ellen DeGeneres Show's Oscars correspondent.[16][17][18][19] He is known for his eccentric and over-the-top "mat talk," a cheerleading term, in which he yells and cheers on other people.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he made a guest appearance on the cheerleading themed song "Mas(k)ot" by Todrick Hall from his album Quarantine Queen.[20]

2020 arrest

In September 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced they had a warrant for Harris for allegedly soliciting sex from minors.[21] The case involves twin brothers who were thirteen when Harris, nineteen at the time, allegedly sent suggestive messages asking for pictures and seeking sex.[21] The boys' mother at first dismissed the contacts, but after another cheerleading coach allegedly assaulted them, felt there might be a pervasive atmosphere of tolerance of sexual abuse either in the sport or the companies that govern them.[21] United States All Star Federation, Varsity Spirit and Cheer Athletics were later named as parties to the legal proceedings.[22]

On September 17, 2020, Harris was arrested by the FBI and charged in federal court in Chicago for production of child pornography.[22] Harris allegedly admitted to soliciting and receiving explicit messages on Snapchat from other individuals he knew were minors; he also allegedly admitted to having oral and anal sex with a 15-year-old in mid-2019, according to federal court records.[23] Harris is suspended from at least one company, and is facing the loss of several sponsorships.[21] A spokesperson for Harris 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."[24] Harris's cheer coach Monica Aldama is said to have been devastated from his arrest.[25]

In a statement about his arrest, Netflix said "Like everyone we are shocked by this news. Any abuse of minors is a terrible crime and we respect the legal process."[26]

On December 12, 2020 it was reported that Harris faced an additional 7 charges involving incidents with 4 other minors from August 2017 to August 2020, including a charge involving an alleged incident where Harris traveled from Texas to Florida to have sex with a 15-year-old in May 2019.[27][28] Harris pled not guilty to the new charges.[29]

References
  1. @TeenVogue (July 14, 2020). "HAPPY BIRTHDAY @Jerry_K2TR! 📣 ✨ 🥳" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. "Cheer | Netflix Official Site". www.netflix.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  3. Kircher, Madison Malone (January 16, 2020). "Follow the Stars of Netflix's Cheer on Instagram, You Know You Want To". Vulture. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  4. Reilly, Kaitlin. "Where To Follow The Stars Of Netflix's Cheer". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  5. "Here's What Fan-Favorite & Precious Human Jerry Is Doing After 'Cheer'". Elite Daily. Retrieved January 27, 2020."What the Stars of Netflix's Cheer Are Up to Today". E! Online. January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020."You Can Still Donate To Jerry's GoFundMe After Watching 'Cheer'". Bustle. Retrieved January 27, 2020."Netflix's 'Cheer' Breakout Star Jerry Harris GoFundMe Flooded With Donations From Fans". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.l"Cheer-fluencers: Where are the stars of the hit Netflix show now?". Evening Standard. January 23, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020."'Cheer': Favorites Lexi Brumback and Jerry Harris Return to Navarro and More Squad Updates". ktvb.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.Weiss, Suzy (January 17, 2020). "The characters we're rooting for on Netflix's 'Cheer'". New York Post. Retrieved January 27, 2020.Bonner, Mehera (January 23, 2020). "Freakishly Obsessed With 'Cheer'? Same! Here's Where the Cast Is RN". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  6. Swartz, Jason Meisner, Tracy. "Jerry Harris, star of Netflix show 'Cheer,' charged with producing child pornography after raid on Naperville home". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  7. Bergamotto, Lori (January 25, 2020). "The Cast of Netflix's 'Cheer' Is Just as Inspiring on Instagram as They Are on the Show". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  8. "Here's What Fan-Favorite & Precious Human Jerry Is Doing After 'Cheer'". Elite Daily. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  9. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-jerry-harris-cheer-child-pornography-charges-chicago-20200917-dddpvpsk7ra2hb72c67b47j6uq-story.html
  10. "Opinion | I cried watching a Netflix docuseries about cheerleading — and I'm not alone". NBC News. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  11. "'Cheer' Favorite Lexi Brumback Is Back on the Squad and More Updates". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  12. "Netflix Cheer: This is what all the Navarro cheerleaders are up to now". UK. January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  13. "Watch the 'Cheer' Squad Perform Their Winning Routine on 'Ellen'". Decider. January 23, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  14. Hays, Julie. "Area cheer squad appears on 'Ellen,' leaves with $20,000 check". www.kwtx.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  15. The 'Cheer' Cast Gives Ellen 'Mat Talk', retrieved January 27, 2020
  16. "Cheer's Jerry Harris Is Going to the 2020 Oscars". E! Online. February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  17. "Jerry from Netflix's Cheer Is Going to the Oscars! See His Reaction to Mat-Talking the Stars". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  18. "Jerry From 'Cheer' Will Mat Talk Stars At The Oscars For The 'Ellen DeGeneres Show'". Bustle. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  19. Cubit, Brea (February 8, 2020). "Jerry Harris From Netflix's Cheer Is Going to the Oscars, and His Reaction Is Priceless". POPSUGAR Celebrity. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  20. Daw, Stephen (April 27, 2020). "Surprise! Todrick Hall Is Releasing a Coronavirus-Themed Album This Week". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  21. Kwiatkowski, Maria; Nadolny, Tricia L. (September 14, 2020). "Jerry Harris from Cheer under FBI Investigation for Allegedly Soliciting Sex from Minors". USA Today. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  22. Bahr, Sarah (September 17, 2020). "Jerry Harris of 'Cheer' Arrested on Child Pornography Charge". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  23. Madani, Doha (September 17, 2020). "Jerry Harris of Netflix's 'Cheer' arrested on a child pornography charge". NBC News. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  24. Coleman, Justine (September 17, 2020). "'Cheer' star Jerry Harris arrested on child pornography charge". TheHill. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  25. Connolly, Erin Jensen, Tricia L. Nadolny, Marisa Kwiatkowski and Daniel. "Jerry Harris' 'Cheer' coach Monica Aldama is 'devastated' following his arrest for child porn". USA Today. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  26. Sandra Gonzalez and Brad Parks. "'Cheer' star Jerry Harris arrested on charge of production of child pornography". CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  27. https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/11/us/jerry-harris-cheer-child-porn-sex-charges/index.html
  28. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jerry-harris-star-netflix-s-cheer-faces-new-charges-child-n1250996
  29. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/cheer-jerry-harris-child-abuse-charge-b1776017.html
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