Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Jerry Harris of Netflix’s ‘Cheer’ Series

Recent reports have brought to light allegations of sexual abuse within the cheerleading community, casting a shadow over the sport and raising serious questions about athlete safety and organizational accountability. At the center of this controversy is Netflix’s docuseries “Cheer,” whose first season captivated audiences with its high-flying stunts and compelling personal narratives. However, the show’s second season, released in January 2022, revealed a far more profound and disturbing narrative lurking beneath the surface of the competitive cheerleading world. 

Allegations of Sexual Abuse Against Jerry Harris

Jerry Harris, once celebrated as the breakout star of the Netflix series “Cheer,” was arrested on child pornography charges in September 2020, the same year “Cheer” season 1 was released, with additional charges following in December. The indictment against Harris alleged that he solicited sexually explicit content from minors and attempted to engage in sexual acts with underage individuals. 

The criminal charges were filed just days after a Texas lawsuit alleging that Harris had sexually harassed twin boys, then 13, who Harris, then 19, met at various Varsity- and USASF-sanctioned cheerleading events. At the time, Harris worked as a coach for a Texas gym called Cheer Athletics Inc., which was also named in the suit.

Harris Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to Prison

According to court documents, Harris admitted to the FBI that he exchanged explicit content on Snapchat with 10 to 15 minors and engaged in sexual activity with a minor. Harris later pled guilty to charges of child pornography and transporting a minor with the intent for illicit sexual conduct. In December 2020, Harris was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release. The twins’ lawsuit against Harris was settled in 2022. 

According to reports, the twins’ civil suit helped pave the way for a wave of federal lawsuits alleging sex abuse in cheerleading filed on behalf of 21 accusers. Each lawsuit named the U.S. All Star Federation (USASF) and Varsity, a major organization in the cheerleading industry, as co-defendants in their claims, along with their alleged abusers.

Cheerleading Officials Allegedly Ignored Reports of Abuse

Sam and Charlie’s mother, Kristen, says that her attempts to report the incidents involving Harris and her sons through official channels were met with a disturbing lack of action. She claims to have notified the owner of the Texas-based gym associated with Harris, Cheer Athletics Inc., submitted two reports on the US All Star Federation website, and informed Varsity. Frustrated by the lack of response from within the cheerleading community, Kristen filed a report with the FBI, which promptly initiated an investigation into the allegations of abuse.

Sexual Abuse: A Pervasive Problem in Youth Sports

The Harris lawsuit is indicative of a larger, more pervasive issue within the sport of cheerleading and youth sports in general. A September 2020 investigation by USA Today uncovered dozens of cheerleading coaches who had been convicted of sex crimes but were still allowed to work with children, pointing to a troubling lack of oversight and accountability.

This apparent lack of safeguards in cheerleading is not unique to the sport, as evidenced by similar scandals in other athletic disciplines. Sam and Charlie’s attorney, Sarah Klein, herself a survivor of abuse by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, emphasizes that the goal is not to dismantle cheerleading but to create a safe environment for children to participate without fear of abuse.

The Importance of Civil Action in Seeking Justice

While criminal charges have brought wider attention to the issue of sexual abuse in cheerleading, civil lawsuits are often crucial in uncovering the full extent of the problem. Klein draws parallels to the USA Gymnastics scandal, where civil litigation revealed the depth of complicity among various organizations in enabling abuse. This underscores the importance of thorough investigations and accountability measures in protecting young athletes.

As for Sam and Charlie, their bravery in coming forward has the potential to spark significant change within the cheerleading community and beyond. Their actions may save countless children from experiencing similar abuse. “Coming forward as a survivor of sexual abuse is one of the most difficult, vulnerable, traumatizing things a person will ever do,” Klein said. “What these boys have done is simply heroic, and they have saved lives of children they are never going to meet.”