Cheer coach Monica Aldama says that she is both shocked and heartbroken by the news of Jerry Harris' arrest. Aldama and Harris were both part of the popular Netflix docuseries Cheer, which followed the adventures of the Navarro College Bulldogs Cheer Team. The series premiered to positive reviews and was cited as reinvigorating casual viewer interest in the sport.
Harris, who was one of the stars of Cheer, became something of a viral sensation after his time on the show, with his trademark "mat talk" gaining thousands of views online. However, following reports of inappropriate sexual conduct and an FBI search of his home in Naperville, Illinois, Harris was arrested yesterday in Chicago. As of right now, he has been charged with producing child pornography and appeared in a court hearing in Chicago yesterday afternoon.
Harris' coach Monica Aldama has broken her silence about his arrest, where she posted a statement on Instagram saying that she is devastated by the news. In Aldama's post, she writes that "our children must be protected from abuse and exploitation, and I'm praying hard for the victims and everyone affected." Aldama also calls for privacy during this time and asks for space, time, and respect as she and her Cheer family process the news. You can see Aldama's statement on Harris below:
Although Aldama doesn't say more about Harris, his representatives continue to deny the allegations made against him, even if they haven't addressed the arrest yet. That being said, Harris' representatives emphasize that they "dispute the claims" brought against Harris. In addition, their statement highlights that Harris' representatives are confident in his innocence and believe that an investigation will help clear his name. Harris' fellow teammates on Cheer—including fan favorites such as Lexi Brumback and Gabi Butler—have yet to comment on his arrest.
While Harris' representatives continue to maintain his innocence, it appears that there is more than enough evidence to move forward with a full case. Although there has been little new information since news broke of Harris' arrest—aside from Aldama's Instagram statement—it's likely that the public will start to know more as the case further develops. As of right now, this is undoubtedly a difficult situation that will only be more troubling as it continues to unfold. As such, there is not much more to be done at this point other than to wait and hope that justice will be served.
Source: Monica Aldama/Instagram