Two men who appeared in the Netflix docuseries Cheer have been arrested. According to TVLine, Mitchell Ryan and Robert Scianna Jr. were each arrested in separate cases accused of alleged sexual assault of minors.
According to TVLine, Ryan, 23, was arrested in Texas Thursday for alleged aggravated sexual assault of a child. Ryan was a member of the Navarro College cheer team centered in the Netflix TV series. Although a part of the team, Ryan was not featured as a main cast member.
Scianna Jr., 25, appeared in one episode of the show as a cheer coach and choreographer, via TVLine. He was arrested Wednesday in Virginia facing charges of allegedly meeting an underage male child for sex, according to reports by the Chesterfield County Police via USA Today. His official charges are described as “felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and using an electronic communication device to solicit sex” via the Chesterfield County Police.
Premiering in early 2020, Netflix’s Cheer followed several Navarro College students who belonged to the nationally-renowned Navarro cheerleading team in Corsicana, Texas. The series not only highlighted the backgrounds of the students and famed coach, Monica Aldama, but explored the history of cheerleading as it pertains to sports culture in America. The series became an early pre-COVID hit, garnering six Emmy nominations including Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program and Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program.
Five months ago fellow Navarro cheer team member and star of the show, Jerry Harris, was arrested on similar charges. According to TVLine, Harris was arrested on charges of alleged involvement in the production of child pornography. These charges came to light after two twin brothers, aged 14, came forward accusing Harris of alleged sexual harassment and solicitation via social media. At the time of the harassment, the boys were 13 and Harris was 19. One brother alleges Harris even approached him for sex at a cheerleading competition. Harris has since pleaded not guilty.
According to TVline, a second season of the show was planned but COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the annual cheer competition featured in the docuseries. Series’ creator and executive producer, Greg Whiteley (New York Doll, Mitt), still hopes the show can make a return.
“There’s enough interest in there being a subsequent season that it’d be silly for us not to explore it,” Whiteley said via TVLine. “But under the current conditions it’s made it complicated, I’ll say that. We’re still working through it,” Whiteley said via TVLine.