Jeremy O. Harris Detained in Japan Amidst Drug Allegations
Jeremy O. Harris, previously a cast member on Emily in Paris and a playwright recognized with a Tony Award nomination, was held in Japan in December 2025 over claims related to drugs.
As per a report by Reuters, Harris was taken into custody at Naha Airport in Okinawa on November 16, 2025, on the belief that he attempted to bring illegal substances into Japan. A spokesperson for Okinawa Regional Customs stated that an officer from their organization allegedly discovered the synthetic drug MDMA in Harris’s possession.
At the time of this publication, Harris remains in detention in Japan, a nation known for having some of the most stringent drug legislation globally. Us Weekly attempted to reach his representative for comment.
Harris appeared as the recurring character Grégory Elliott Duprée, a fashion designer, during the second and third seasons of Emily in Paris, and also featured in Gossip Girl and What We Do in the Shadows. Furthermore, he served as a co-producer for the second season of Euphoria. His 2018 theatrical production, Slave Play, achieved a record-breaking 12 nominations at the Tony Awards.
The premiere date for Emily in Paris Season 5 has been unveiled, alongside the release of initial promotional photos.
Continue reading for additional details regarding Harris’s apprehension.
What Transpired with Jeremy O. Harris?
A representative from Okinawa Regional Customs informed Reuters that on November 16, 2025, Jeremy O. Harris traveled from Britain to Taiwan before attempting to enter Okinawa for a sightseeing trip. During a customs inspection, an agent purportedly found 0.78 grams of crystalline substance containing MDMA — a synthetic compound also referred to as molly or ecstasy.
He was detained on suspicion of violating Japan’s Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act, with prosecutors initiating proceedings to formally charge Harris on December 4, 2025. He has been held in custody in Tomigusuku, Japan, since his arrest on November 16, 2025, as of this publication. It is currently unknown whether he has entered a plea.
The Hollywood Reporter disclosed that Harris was scheduled to participate in the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia in December 2025 to promote Erupcja, a road movie he co-wrote and stars in alongside pop sensation Charli XCX. While the festival has not issued a statement on Harris’s situation, his name and image have been removed from all promotional materials.
Harris has yet to make any public remarks concerning his arrest.
Who Is Jeremy O. Harris?
Harris earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in 2019 from the esteemed Yale School of Drama.
He first gained significant recognition as a playwright with Slave Play in 2018, a compelling examination of racial dynamics and psychological trauma. Slave Play's 12 Tony Award nominations established a new benchmark for the most nominations for a non-musical play in 2019. (This record was subsequently surpassed by Stereophonic with 13 nominations in 2024.)
Following his Broadway achievements, Harris secured a development agreement with HBO and joined the production team of Euphoria season 2 as a co-producer. He co-wrote the 2021 black comedy Zola, starring Colman Domingo, which received seven nominations at the 37th Independent Spirit Awards in 2022.
His next collaboration involved pop star Charli XCX, with whom he co-wrote and stars in the forthcoming road movie Erupcja. The film — which had its global debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 — centers on two childhood friends (Charli XCX and Lena Góra) whose adult reunion is disrupted by a volcanic eruption.
As an actor, Harris portrayed the character Grégory Elliot Duprée, a fashion designer, in four episodes of Emily in Paris. He made a guest appearance as himself in the 2021 revival of Gossip Girl, and has also featured in What We Do in the Shadows. Harris also held a supporting role in Talia Ryder and Jacob Elordi’s surreal 2023 comedy-drama The Sweet East.
How Stringent are Japan’s Drug Laws?
Japan enforces some of the toughest drug laws among developed nations. In Japan, drug offenses are categorized into distinct classes — marijuana, stimulants, opioids, and a fourth category for “narcotics and psychotropics.”
Harris faces accusations of violating the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law, which was enacted in 1953.
The U.S. Embassy in Japan advises American travelers to avoid even bringing “many common medications and over-the-counter drugs” into Japan, as they could be deemed illegal.
“It is irrelevant if you possess a valid U.S. prescription for a medicine/drug that is unlawful in Japan: if you carry it with you, you risk arrest and and incarceration by the Japanese authorities,” the Embassy states.
The ‘Gossip Girl’ Cast: Their Current Whereabouts?
Harris is not the first public figure to encounter issues with Japan’s strict drug regulations. DJ David Morales was arrested at Fukuoka airport in October 2018 when officials allegedly found 0.3 grams of MDMA in his possession, according to the Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun. Morales denied any knowledge of carrying the MDMA.
A statement issued by the DJ’s management more than two weeks after his detention confirmed that he was eventually released without charges.
“We are pleased to confirm that David Morales has been released without charge,” their statement read. “David is in good health and has asked us to convey his love and thanks to everyone who has shown their support. We will not be providing any further comment.”
Perhaps the most widely known celebrity arrest in Japan occurred when Paul McCartney was detained in Tokyo in 1980 for allegedly attempting to import 219 grams of marijuana into the country. The former Beatle was held for nine days before being deported from the country without facing a formal charge.
