Arthur Harris said he has never heard of Alice Roosevelt Longworth.

Even so, in Longworth, Harris has a kindred spirit.

Longworth, a socialite and eldest child of President Theodore Roosevelt, was intelligent and independent, often scandalous and sometimes shunned, but rarely at a loss for words.

She is best remembered for saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, come sit by me.”

For almost four years, Harris has hosted a show on various social media accounts called “GTA Supreme Court,” where Harris, outfitted with a gavel and a purple high school graduation robe to simulate a justice’s attire, provides commentary on submitted cell phone videos, debunks or verifies rumors and gossip, promotes upcoming parties/events and makes pitches for the show’s sponsors. The highlight of the shows is when disputes are hashed out via phone call to Harris. Harris may be the judge, but ultimately the cases are decided in the court of public, the thousands of viewers.

It’s a reflection of young Black culture — what people are really talking about on the streets and in the clubs, content that generally doesn’t make it to traditional media.

Twice a week, Harris pulls up a digital seat and beckons, “Come sit by me.”

Be forewarned: The content, both language and subject matter, is often for adults only.

One step ahead of the censors

Free-spirited, sharp-tongued and controversial, Alice Roosevelt Longworth was banned from the White House during the Taft and Wilson administrations.

Harris can relate to all that, too.

Harris’ show has been routinely reported and banned by Facebook and Instagram for violating community standards, forcing Harris to switch back and forth between platforms, start new accounts with new names and even hold back the more objectionable content until well into the show, assuming social media administrators tuning in might conclude that there is nothing scurrilous to be found.

His shows are scheduled for live broadcasts on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m., but the shows are sporadic, sometimes canceled altogether, as Harris tries to stay one step ahead of the censors.

“This is something that has started to happen only recently,” Harris said. “For most of the time, I didn’t have any problems with being reported. But now, I think it’s sort of a backlash because it’s grown so much.”

Indeed Harris may not always have a set broadcast schedule, but what he does have is an audience — almost 7,000 combined followers among his Facebook and Instagram accounts. He has paid sponsors, too, usually 10 to 12 per episode, mostly small local Black-owned businesses — everything from a company that rents inflatable playhouses for children’s parties to tax services to hair/nail salons and a company that sells “treats.” (“I’m not going to tell you what’s in them,” Harris told his audience during a show last year. “But they will get you lit.”)

Misconceptions

As his audience grows, so too do some misconceptions, Harris said.

One of the biggest of those, one that has led to angry calls and threats, is that Harris exposes people’s “dirty laundry.”

“Some people have the wrong idea,” Harris said. “Most of the content comes to me, things that are already out there, on social media. We’re not exposing anybody, and what you see on the show isn’t the first time it’s been out there. They are things everybody has seen and everyone is talking about.”

Harris said GTA Supreme Court is true to its origins in that respect.

“The idea came to me about four years ago,” said Harris. “Me and one of my friends were sitting around talking one day about stuff that was happening. I decided, ‘Hey, let’s talk about the situation, the fights, the drama, the mess. We could treat it like a court case.’”

For the first two years, the show was confined to commentary, mainly.

“Then, about Season 3, people wanted to come to court and tell their side of the story,” Harris said. “Really, the show is about conflict resolution.”

Still, the show puts a premium on the outrageous — incidents and topics that have gone viral.

There are limitations, though.

“I’m not going to do content that hurts people or exposes their personal business,” Harris said. “If it’s on my show, it’s already out there.”

The judge

Harris, 32, is Columbus born and raised and a 2008 graduate of New Hope High School.

He came out as gay — actually, he admitted it was more like busting the door off the hinges — to his mom at age 13 and his father at 16.

“My parents have been super supportive in everything I’ve done,” he said.

Since an early age, he’s had to fight conventional ideas to assert his authentic self.

“I feel like I’ve got three strikes, in a way,” Harris said. “First, I’m a man and that’s one strike because of the expectations people have about what it means to be a man. Then, I’m a Black man, and that’s another layer of expectations. Strike two. And not only that, I’m a gay Black man. Three strikes you’re out.”

Harris has turned those obstacles to his advantage, at least as far as his show is concerned.

“I was always kind of the wild child, always wanting to be heard,” Harris said. “I don’t follow the ground rules. I don’t ask for approval. I am a fun, outgoing, honest, unapologetic person. When something happens, I’ll be the one that goes on and says what he thinks and doesn’t feel bad about it.”

The audience

Harris said he had no idea GTA Supreme Court would capture such a large and devoted audience.

The explanation, he believes, is that the show connects with a specific demographic.

“I had some data run on the show and it shows that 85 percent of the audience is between the ages of 21 and 30 and they’re average middle class people in the Black community,” Harris said. “They aren’t the people out there partying and getting involved in the mess. You never see them out and about. They’re with their families. They come home from work and want to see what’s going on and keep up with all the drama.”

Yvonne Robinson is a pretty good example of the show’s audience.

“I’ve been watching for about a year or so,” said Robinson, a nurse practitioner. “He’s the burst of energy I need after coming home from a long day of work. He reminds me of the old Jerry Springer show. He’s serious, but he has that funny side.”

The content is not the show’s greatest appeal, Robinson said.

“I don’t think the show would be successful without him,” Robinson said. “He’s fun, a character. It’s just him. There’s just something about him. He is the show.”

Harris is the only person on camera (guests join by phone), so much of the appeal of the show is watching Harris’ reactions to what he’s hearing. His body language and facial expressions, punctuated with a “wow, wow, wow, wow!” are something viewers tune in to watch.

“I try to be impartial and let people talk it out but do get excited sometimes,” Harris said. “One thing about me: I’m out there. I don’t hide how I feel about things.”

Like most of his audience, Kristy Guy tunes in for the entertainment, but she also appreciates the more serious side of the show.

“I do feel like he does try to resolve things and make things better between people,” Guy said. “He’s not just using people to get a laugh. I also like that he promotes people’s businesses.”

Guy is a regular sponsor of the GTA Supreme Court.

“I know I’ve seen a lot of new customers because of the show,” said Guy, who owns Krazii Kids Klothing, an apparel store. “I think it’s an awesome thing he’s doing.”

Harris said he’s ready to launch Season 5 of GTA Supreme Court, but doesn’t know how long the show will continue.

“Oh, it’s exhausting,” Harris said. “It’s so popular now. I can’t go to Walmart without people saying, ‘Oh, there’s the judge!’ I think I’m getting to the point where I realize I don’t want it to be a show that goes on and on forever. I want to do different things someday.”

Until that day, GTA Supreme Court remains in session.

“Honestly, I never saw this coming,” Harris said. “I’m just wondering how much bigger it’s going to get. I have no idea.”

Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].

READER FAVORITES

• 

  A plan at last: Overhaul planned for ‘most dangerous’ Hwy 45 intersection

  By Braden Simmons • 1 day ago