Jeremy O. Harris, the Tony-nominated playwright behind the acclaimed Slave Play, has been released from custody in Japan after being held for three weeks behind bars. The 36-year-old actor and writer was arrested on Nov. 16 after customs officials claimed to have found 760 milligrams of MDMA in his carry-on tote bag, a violation of the country’s strict anti-drug laws, which can carry a jail sentence of up to seven years. Harris was released without charges on Monday, with a representative for the playwright claiming he planned to stay in Japan for the foreseeable future to write and research a new project. Harris is best known for his groundbreaking 2018 drama Slave Play, which received a record 12 Tony Award nominations in 2020. His other credits include co-writing the film “Zola” and roles in series such as HBO Max’s “Gossip Girl” and Netflix’s “Emily in Paris.” A spokesperson for the Tomishiro Police Station confirmed the actor’s release but declined to comment.
Read it at Deadline
