It’s been two months since FX’s English Teacher wrapped its first season. It felt like a buzzed-about hit — beloved by critics and a regular feature on year-end lists (in our podcast publishing tomorrow, I ranked it as my second favorite show of 2024). It’s unusual, then, that FX has not yet renewed it for a second season despite its success.
However, for those who have come across Reddit discussions about issues in creator and star Brian Jordan Alvarez’s past, FX’s hesitation may not be a surprise. Jon Ebeling, a former collaborator of Alvarez’s, has been a frequent presence in social media discussions of the series, both directly and in screenshots shared across Instagram, Reddit, and other platforms.
Before English Teacher, Brian Jordan Alvarez created a cult hit on YouTube, The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, with his English Teacher co-star and collaborator Stephanie Koenig and Jon Ebeling. While details are conflicting, there was reportedly a romantic relationship between Alvarez, Koenig, and Ebeling. In a Vulture piece, Ebeling states that he only agreed to be in a relationship with Alvarez because he was interested in Koenig and felt pressured to comply.
Their relationship dynamics were reflected in The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo. According to Ebeling, who played a central role in Caleb Gallo, Alvarez performed oral sex on him without consent in 2016 while shooting a scene that mirrored real-life dynamics within their close-knit group. Ebeling claims the incident occurred under the guise of improvisation, leaving him frozen and unable to stop out of fear of jeopardizing his career. Alvarez has denied the allegations, stating that Ebeling consented verbally and participated willingly.
Ebeling filed a police report with the LAPD in September 2023 and reported Alvarez to SAG-AFTRA.
“Brian briefly made contact with Mr. Ebeling’s penis under the covers, believing (correctly and justifiably in light of Brian’s then-current sexual relationship with Mr. Ebeling) that Mr. Ebeling was fine with it,” a legal representative for Alvarez told Vulture. The lawyer also maintained that Ebeling “consented verbally.”
Ebeling confided in Koenig about the incident shortly after it happened but was convinced it was a miscommunication. He continued to work with Alvarez and Koenig on several projects over the years but later reassessed the situation and concluded it was sexual assault.
“Brian Jordan Alvarez’s interactions with Jon Ebeling were always entirely consensual – as numerous witnesses have attested,” a representative for Alvarez emailed Pajiba. “Indeed, in 2018, two years after this alleged incident, Mr. Ebeling himself unambiguously said as much on tape.
“For many months, Mr. Ebeling has peddled his falsehoods to anyone who would listen but, when confronted with proof of his duplicity and definitive evidence provided by third parties showing why Mr. Ebeling should not be trusted, numerous media outlets declined to print his outrageous claims,” the statement continued.
Alvarez, celebrated for his openness about sexuality and relationships in his work, has also faced scrutiny for additional behaviors. Former classmates have described troubling incidents during his college years, including allegations of harassment and inappropriate advances toward straight men. Ebeling has compared his experience to the stalking depicted in Baby Reindeer. The Alvarez representative, however, contends that Vulture “ignored first-hand testimony about Mr. Ebeling’s history as a perpetrator of scarring acts of assault.”
The fallout has divided the once-close group. Some have defended Alvarez, while others have privately speculated about the claims. FX has yet to comment publicly on the allegations.
Source: Vulture
(The piece has been updated to include a statement from a representative for Alvarez.)