Jeremy O. Harris, known for his role in “Emily in Paris,” has been held in Japan for almost three weeks following his arrest on drug smuggling allegations.

The 36-year-old playwright, who has received a Tony nomination, was apprehended at Naha Airport on November 16. Reports indicate that customs officers discovered a crystal-like substance in his tote bag.

Authorities reported that the substance tested positive for MDMA and weighed approximately 780 milligrams, a quantity far exceeding typical recreational use.

The case progressed as prosecutors in Okinawa received a criminal complaint from customs, moving it closer to potential formal charges.

Officials have not yet disclosed if Harris has made a plea or secured legal counsel.

Harris, who rose to prominence with Slave Play and later staged West End performances designated for Black-identifying audiences, remains in detention as the investigation continues. 

Emily in Paris actor Jeremy O. Harris has been detained in Japan for nearly three weeks after being arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling; (pictured 2024)

The Tony-nominated playwright, 36, was taken into custody at Naha Airport on November 16 when customs officials allegedly found a crystal substance in his tote bag, according to multiple reports; (O. Harris, Lily Collins, Ashley Park, and Darren Star in 2021)

Harris had also been expected to appear at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia to support Erupcja, a movie in which he stars opposite Charli XCX. 

Both he and the pop star share writing and producing credits on the film.

His planned appearance was quietly scrubbed from the festival’s schedule, and organizers offered no public explanation.  

On Netflix’s Emily in Paris, Harris plays recurring character Grégory Elliott Duprée, a high-profile fashion designer who competes with Emily (Lily Collins) in the Parisian fashion world. 

The character is known for his professional rivalries, including a social media feud with Emily and tension with fellow designer Pierre Cadault. 

Harris has appeared in seasons 2, 3, and 4 of the series.

He first rose to prominence with Slave Play, the record-breaking Broadway hit that earned more Tony nominations than any play before it.

His career has stretched well beyond the stage, with producing roles on HBO’s Euphoria. 

Harris, who rose to prominence with Slave Play and later staged West End performances designated for Black-identifying audiences, remains in detention as the investigation continues; (pictured 2024)

On Netflix’s Emily in Paris, Harris plays recurring character Grégory Elliott Duprée, a high-profile fashion designer who competes with Emily (Lily Collins) in the Parisian fashion world; ((L-R) Bruno Gouery, Lucas Bravo, William Abadie, Kate Walsh, Camille Razat, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Samuel Arnold, Lily Collins, Ashley Park, Paul Forman, Lucien Laviscount, and Jeremy O. Harris attend the Emily In Paris French Consulate Red Carpet at French Consulate on December 15, 2022)

He’s also set to adapt Brit Bennett’s novel The Vanishing Half. 

Japan enforces some of the strictest drug laws in the world, with authorities pursuing even minor possession and often holding suspects for extended periods during investigations. 

Convictions can lead to multi-year prison terms, though the country does not impose the death penalty for drug offenses. 

Japan has a history of high-profile celebrity run-ins with its strict drug laws. 

In 2018, Grammy-winning DJ David Morales was arrested at Fukuoka Airport for alleged MDMA, and decades earlier, Paul McCartney’s 1980 marijuana bust in Tokyo led to a lengthy entry ban.