‘English Teacher’ star Brian Jordan Alvarez facing allegations of sexual assault
Brian Jordan Alvarez, who not only starred in but also created the popular comedy series “English Teacher,” has been accused of sexual assault.
A report from Vulture on Tuesday included allegations from Jon Ebeling, a previous collaborator and co-star of Alvarez in “The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo.” Ebeling claims the incident took place over eight years ago during filming for the web comedy. Ebeling stated he filed a police report in September with the Los Angeles Police Department and made a report to the Screen Actors Guild regarding Alvarez.
YSL News has reached out to representatives for Alvarez, SAG, and the LAPD for comment.
According to Ebeling, while filming a scene for “Caleb Gallo,” which debuted in 2016, Alvarez’s character was supposed to ask to perform oral sex. However, Ebeling recounted to Vulture that during this filming, Alvarez unexpectedly pulled down his underwear and proceeded to engage in the act.
“I had a feeling that no one on set was aware of what was happening beneath the covers, and I just felt paralyzed,” he shared. “I was clueless about what to do. Here I was with my director, who was assaulting me. It was a terrible experience.”
“My immediate thought was, ‘Hold on. I didn’t agree to this. We hadn’t discussed this beforehand.’ I felt violated.”
Reportedly, the scene was inspired by a prior experience between Ebeling and Alvarez. Ebeling mentioned to Vulture that he once allowed Alvarez to perform oral sex on him after Alvarez insisted on a sexual encounter. Alvarez claims that Ebeling “enthusiastically consented” during that moment.
Through his attorney, Michael J. Kump, Alvarez stated to Vulture that during the filming, “Brian had brief contact with Mr. Ebeling’s penis under the comforter, believing (and rightly so, considering Brian’s then-existing sexual relationship with Mr. Ebeling) that Mr. Ebeling was agreeable to it.”
Alvarez’s representatives further told Vulture that Ebeling had “verbally consented” to engage in this “for real” before filming, a claim Ebeling strongly contests.
In a statement to YSL News, Alvarez’s spokesperson asserted that his “interactions with Jon Ebeling were always fully consensual, as confirmed by multiple witnesses” and noted that in 2018, about two years after the alleged incident, Ebeling admitted to this on tape.
The spokesperson also denounced the article addressing the allegations, accusing Ebeling of dishonesty, and indicated that Alvarez is considering potential legal actions in response.
“For months, Mr. Ebeling has spread his falsehoods to anyone willing to listen, but when faced with proof of his deceit and compelling evidence from third parties showing why he shouldn’t be believed, several media outlets refused to publish his scandalous claims. Unfortunately, New York Magazine showed no such discretion in their reckless rush to publish a sensational article, regardless of the truth.”
Ebeling had previously alluded to a troubling experience with Alvarez, posting the “English Teacher” poster on Instagram, stating that his “personal experience” with the creator was “much closer to the storyline of” “Baby Reindeer,” a Netflix show focused on stalking and sexual assault.
The first season of “English Teacher” concluded in October, but the show has yet to receive a renewal for a second season.