American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris, best known for his Tony-nominated play “Slave Play,” was arrested on November 16. The abuse occurred at Naha Airport in Okinawa, Japan. Harris, 36, is accused of attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the United States. Customs officers later discovered a substance that was composed mostly of synthetic MDMA crystal of 0.78.
As it happened, Harris had actually come to Okinawa to go sightseeing, arriving from Britain with a stopover in Taiwan. His first challenge came only after landing. Immediately upon entering the airport, he was approached by a customs officer. The officer’s next move was to rummage through all of his stuff. The discovery of the MDMA led to Harris’s immediate arrest on suspicion of violating Japan’s Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act.
As of writing, he is still being detained in a police station in Tomigusuku, a city on southern Okinawa. As this investigation continues, there is no indication yet if Harris has found legal representation in Japan. To add insult to injury, his representatives have so far failed to respond to multiple requests for comment on the unfolding scandal.
Harris has received widespread praise for his play “Slave Play.” Additionally, he recently gained attention for his acting in the popular Netflix series “Emily in Paris,” and demonstrated further creativity as the producer behind HBO’s phenomenal drama “Euphoria.” Especially because his prominence in the entertainment industry has shined a lot of attention to this incident. This leads to broader questions about how such serious allegations are deservedly expected to impact his career.
Now the court proceedings are officially set in motion. Basically, the ultimate decision in this case could be hugely important to Harris’s reputation and legacy and forthcoming small-ball projects. Japan has some of the most draconian drug laws in the world, with harsh penalties for all those involved. This leads to an additional, combined, and critical moment for the playwright and actor.