'Cheer' Star Jerry Harris Denies Claims Of Soliciting Minors For Sex

Jerry Harris, the star of the hit Netflix docuseries “Cheer,” is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for allegedly soliciting minors for sex. The star has vehemently denied all the allegations leveled against him.

Multiple sources told USA Today that the law enforcement agency issued a search warrant Monday at a home in Naperville, Ill. The media outlet also reported that administering a search warrant was part of the investigation.

On the other hand, a spokesperson for Harris said that the solicitation happened when the star was 19 years of age, TMZ reported. The rep also said that his client is currently waiting for the investigation to be over, so that the real facts can come out.

“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 complete the true facts will be revealed,” TMZ quoted the spokesperson, as saying.

The investigation is being carried out after the claims that were reported to police by a private company named Varsity Brands. The company’s chief legal officer, Burton Brillhart, sent letters to police in Texas and Florida claiming that Varsity Brands had become aware of “inappropriate sexual conduct” accusations against the “Cheer” star.

In the letter from Aug. 1, Brillhart noted that they reported whatever information they had to the authorities as required by the law.

“As a result of the recent allegations, we have barred this person from having any affiliation with Varsity Brands or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, now and in the future,” USA Today quoted the letter.

As far as the allegations are concerned, USA Today reported that Brilhart also shared two screenshots in his letter written to the police. It included an alleged Snapchat message with a picture of what appears to be Harris’ face with the message, “Would you ever want to [explicit]?”

Meanwhile, another screenshot shared by the company showed a person named “Jerry Harris” writing: “ Hey btw I found a place for us to do stuff it’s pretty good haha.”

Similarly, TMZ also cited law enforcement sources in saying that Harris is being investigated for alleged possession of child pornography.

Siobhan Johnson, an FBI special agent and public affairs officer, told the media outlet that they are conducting a “court-authorized” law enforcement activity in the area of Naperville.

“The FBI is conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity in the area,” USA Today quoted Johnson, as saying.

As of late, Harris has not been criminally charged in the matter and is yet to comment on the allegations as well as the investigation.

The unfortunate news comes a few hours after “Cheer” won the Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming award at the 2020 TV Critics Awards.

Harris became a household name with his participation in the Netflix docuseries. He has also made an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” earlier this year and covered the Academy Awards as an official Oscars’ correspondent for the talk show.

In a recent interview with Variety, Harris opened up about his sexuality and explained how he wants to be “fearless” in telling everyone that they can be whoever they want to be.

“I want to be someone that’s fearless, that’s confident to others, and that’s confident to themselves and believes in themselves, and just to tell them you can be who you want to be, and you can be who you are because you are perfect and you are enough for anyone,” Variety quoted Harris, as saying.