Jerry Harris (television personality)

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]

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]

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]