Jeremy O. Harris, Tony nominee from "Emily in Paris," held in Japan for weeks on suspicion of drug smuggling

Jeremy O. Harris, the Tony-nominated playwright and actor known for his 2018 hit Slave Play and co-writing A24's Zola, has been in custody in Okinawa, Japan, for nearly three weeks on suspicion of trying to bring illegal substances into the country.

According to reports, the 36-year-old Harris arrived in Okinawa from Taiwan on November 16 and was immediately taken into custody after customs officers allegedly discovered 780 milligrams of MDMA, commonly called Ecstasy, in his carry-on bag. He is currently being investigated under Japan's strict Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Acts.

Formal charges could only proceed after prosecutors in Naha, Okinawa's capital, received a complaint from customs authorities on Thursday. Police in Tomigusuku have not confirmed whether Harris has admitted to the allegations.

If convicted, Harris faces a potential prison sentence of up to seven years, reflecting Japan's rigorous approach to drug-related offenses.

Harris had been scheduled to attend Saudi Arabia's Red Sea International Film Festival to promote the film Erupcja, directed by Pete Ohs and co-starring pop star Charli XCX. Both Harris and XCX are credited as co-writers and producers of the project. The festival has made no statement about his absence, and his name has quietly been removed from the event's lineup.

Harris joins a list of international celebrities who have encountered Japan's strict anti-drug laws, including Grammy-winning DJ David Morales in 2018 and Paul McCartney, who was detained in Tokyo in 1980 for marijuana possession. McCartney was imprisoned for nine days and subsequently barred from entering Japan, resulting in the cancellation of his Wings tour.

A Yale School of Drama graduate, Harris gained widespread recognition with Slave Play, which earned 12 Tony Award nominations in 2020. Beyond theater, he has co-produced Euphoria, appeared as himself in HBO Max's Gossip Girl reboot, had a recurring role on Emily in Paris, and co-starred in the independent film The Sweet East.

Author: Harper Simmons