Brian Jordan Alvarez, the creator and star of FX’s critically acclaimed series “English Teacher,” has been accused of sexual assault by former co-star Jon Ebeling.
Ebeling alleges that Alvarez, 37, sexually assaulted him while they were working together on the digital series “The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo,” which aired on YouTube in 2016.
According to Vulture, Ebeling claims he filed a police report and reported Alvarez to the Screen Actors Guild the day before “English Teacher” premiered.
Both actors starred alongside Stephanie Koenig, who also appears with Alvarez in “English Teacher.” Ebeling asserts that the web series reflected their real-life interactions.
“A major plot point is a sexual encounter between Caleb and Billy that occurs after Billy and Karen have sex for the first time. It is a nearly beat-for-beat reenactment of what transpired among the three actors off set,” Vulture reported.
Ebeling alleges that he was pressured by Alvarez to engage in sexual activities, claiming that Alvarez sexually assaulted him during the filming of a scene for their show.
In response to these allegations, Alvarez has denied any wrongdoing, stating in a statement to TheWrap that their interactions were “entirely consensual.”
Ebeling, who appeared in the digital series “The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo” which was released on YouTube in 2016, asserts that Alvarez sexually assaulted him while they were working on the project together.
An article by Vulture explores the fallout between Alvarez and Ebeling, with Ebeling recounting two specific incidents of alleged assault by Alvarez, one occurring in 2015 and another on set in 2016.
Regarding the alleged on-set incident, Ebeling stated, “I am assuming nobody on set knows what’s going on under the comforter, and I’m just frozen… I didn’t know what to do.”
A spokesperson for Alvarez informed The Wrap: “Brian Jordan Alvarez’s interactions with Jon Ebeling were always entirely consensual, as confirmed by numerous witnesses.”
“In fact, in 2018, two years after the alleged incident, Mr. Ebeling himself clearly stated this on tape. For several months, Mr. Ebeling has been spreading false claims to anyone willing to listen. However, when confronted with undeniable proof of his deceit and definitive evidence from third parties discrediting him, numerous media outlets chose not to publish his outrageous allegations.”
“English Teacher” is a comedy-drama series that premiered on FX in September 2024.
The show follows Evan Marquez, a high school English teacher in Austin, Texas, portrayed by Alvarez.
Despite its popularity, the show has not yet been renewed for a second season.
They starred alongside Stephanie Koenig, who also co-stars with Alvarez in “The English Teacher.” Ebeling claims the series mirrored their real-life relationship, as seen in a still from the show.
Alvarez has denied the allegations, stating their interactions were “entirely consensual” in a statement to TheWrap, also seen in a still from “The English Teacher.”
An FX spokesperson told the Daily Beast regarding the allegations: “We reviewed the allegations presented to us by another media outlet prior to the show’s launch.”
“Mr. Ebeling never reached out to us with any concerns. We will have no further comment at this time.”
“English Teacher” was recently recognized as one of the best television series of the year by The New York Times and boasts a 98% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The show also has several nominations at both the upcoming Critics Choice and Independent Spirit Awards.
Alvarez has received a nomination for Best Lead Performance at the Indie Spirits, competing with renowned actors such as Julianne Moore, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Lily Gladstone. Additionally, he is up for the Best Actor award at the Critics Choice Awards, where he will be competing against David Alan Grier and Martin Short.
Koenig, who was in a relationship with Ebeling at the time of the alleged assault, has also been nominated for her supporting performance. Their relationship ended after Koenig reportedly perceived the incident between Ebeling and Alvarez as infidelity, as stated by Vulture.
Ebeling claims that Koenig and their mutual friends took Alvarez’s side, dismissing his allegations as jealousy over Alvarez’s success.
Despite the show’s popularity, it has not yet been renewed for a second season. However, the show has received several nominations for the upcoming Critics Choice and Independent Spirit Awards. Notably, Alvarez is nominated for both Best Lead Performance and Best Actor.
“English Teacher” is a comedy-drama series that premiered on FX in September. The show revolves around Evan Marquez, portrayed by Alvarez, a high school English teacher in Texas.
Set at Morrison-Hensley High School, the series follows Marquez (played by Brian) as he navigates the professional, political, and personal challenges of working in a high school environment.
He joins his fellow faculty members, who are also grappling with the task of connecting and building relationships with their Gen Z students.
Among them is his best friend Gwen Sanders (Koenig), an optimistic and personable history teacher.
“English Teacher” is currently available for streaming on Hulu. Additionally, “The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo” can be streamed on YouTube.