Jerry Harris was the breakout star of Netflix's Cheer Season 1 and although he appears in the first half of the new season, the series is ultimately forced to reckon with his September 2020 arrest on child pornography and sexual misconduct charges in Episode 5. In the wake of Cheer's success, two of Harris' reported victims were motivated to finally speak out about the alleged abuse they experienced from Harris both on social media and at cheer competitions.
USA Today reporters Marisa Kwiatkowski and Tricia L. Nadolny, who are featured in Season 2, broke the news that twin 14-year-old boys had come forward with allegations that Harris had solicited pornographic images from them and engaged in sexual misconduct during a cheer competition. Since then, other alleged victims have spoken out about their experienced with Harris. He was arrested in September 2020 and plead not guilty to all seven charges, per The New York Times, including "four counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of receiving and attempting to receive child pornography, one count of traveling with the attempt to engage in sexual conduct with a minor and one count of enticement." He faces a minimum of 15 years in prison if convicted, with 30 years maximum.
Although his lawyers fought for his release, Harris has remained in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago since his arrest. A trial date has still not been set, though there will be a status hearing on Jan. 12, 2022, the same day Cheer Season 2 drops, per The New York Times.
In Season 2, Harris' former teammates like Gabi Butler, Maddie Brum, and Jason Thomas grapple with the news, with many of them torn between supporting their friend while realizing the seriousness of his charges. Coach Monica Aldama reveals that she heard of his arrest right before her first live show on Dancing With The Stars and that she received a letter from him. In the letter, Harris seems, in her opinion, overly hopeful about his future and he reportedly claims to want to be a motivational speaker one day. Aldama said that she still has not responded to the letter for lack of anything to say to him. Harris' lawyers did not respond for comment for the series, according to a title card in Episode 5.
While Cheer Season 2 quickly moves on from the scandal after the dedicated episode to focus on the Navarro College squad's quest for a national title, an interview with two of the teen boys who came forward and their mother reveals alleged malfeasance on the part of cheer organizations to handle the allegations not only against Harris, but possibly others in the cheer community.
Images: Netflix