Owner of 'A Christmas Story' House Curses Out Actor Who Was Taking Pictures with Fans on Property: 'Scammer'

Natalia Senanayake
·2 min read
Yano Anaya in attendance for The Camp: A FANmily Reunion Celebrity Meet and Greet, The Hilton Peachtree City Hotel, Peachtree City, GA May 29, 2021.
Yano Anaya in attendance for The Camp: A FANmily Reunion Celebrity Meet and Greet, The Hilton Peachtree City Hotel, Peachtree City, GA May 29, 2021.

Derek Storm/Everett Collection/Alamy Live News, Jason Miller/AP Images for A Christmas Story House and Museum

The owner of the infamous A Christmas Story house was not quite in the holiday spirit earlier this week.

In a video posted by TMZ, actor Yano Anaya — who played Grover Dill in the 1983 Christmas comedy — gets cursed out by the property's owner, Brian Jones, for taking pictures with fans on the house's front steps.

"Get the f— off my house," Jones yells at the actor repeatedly in the clip. The camera pans to Anaya standing on the steps as a line of fans wait to take pictures with him. Jones approaches the actor and tells him to "get away from my property" and to "never come here again."

RELATED: The Iconic Cleveland Home from 'A Christmas Story' Is for Sale

A leg lamp glows in the window of the Christmas Story House and Museum in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood Nov. 14, 2006. Brian Jones has restored the three-story, wood-frame house to its appearance in the movie and will open it for tours beginning Saturday.
A leg lamp glows in the window of the Christmas Story House and Museum in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood Nov. 14, 2006. Brian Jones has restored the three-story, wood-frame house to its appearance in the movie and will open it for tours beginning Saturday.

The Plain Dealer, Scott Shaw/AP Photo

As Anaya slowly backs away from the famous house, which is located in Cleveland, Ohio, Jones yells, "You are such a scammer!"

Jones put the home up for sale on November 14, and Anaya publicly expressed his interest in buying the iconic property soon after. In the video, Jones accuses Anaya of using a website to try and "get people to donate and stuff" and tells the actor, "You guys ain't gonna buy this place. I'm never selling it to you."

RELATED: 'A Christmas Story' Actor Reportedly Wants to Buy the Iconic Movie House That Just Hit the Market

Peter Billingsley Rollout
Peter Billingsley Rollout

MGM/Shutterstock

Following the incident, Jones apologized for his behavior.

"I apologize for the way I expressed myself. However, it was out of concern that fans could be misled into contributing to a Go Fund Me campaign that will not result in the purchase of the house," he wrote in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

He continued, "I have no association with any Go Fund Me campaign. I am not selling the house through Go Fund Me, so fans should not contribute to that fund under false pretenses, thinking their money is going toward buying the house." He clarified that any future sale will only be negotiated with "qualified buyers through my real estate broker."

RELATED: Peter Billingsley Teases 'A Christmas Story Christmas': Ralphie Is 'Back on a Quest' 33 Years Later

A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS, US poster, Peter Billingsley, 2022.
A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS, US poster, Peter Billingsley, 2022.

HBO Max/Courtesy Everett Collection

On November 17, Anaya revealed to TMZ that he and other cast members were interested in purchasing the property. "It only makes sense to have the cast run the show," he told the outlet.

He added that he and his fellow cast members have their fans in mind while considering the purchase, since many of them have expressed their concerns — in a Facebook group called "A Christmas Story Family" — about the nostalgic home's future in the hands of new owners.

Fans are especially excited over the A Christmas Story franchise following the release of the sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, which premiered on November 17 on HBO Max. The movie welcomed back original actors including Peter Billingsley, Ian Petrella and Anaya himself.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Q1 2024 United Rentals Inc Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 United Rentals Inc Earnings Call

  • Q1 2024 Landstar System Inc Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 Landstar System Inc Earnings Call

  • Superintendent speaks out after time capsule from 1920 found in old high school

    A construction crew was in the process of demolishing an old high school in Minnesota recently when they discovered a time capsule tucked inside of a cornerstone from when the building was erected in 1920. A press conference was held Monday following the discovery, during which the contents from the capsule were revealed to community members after being kept in a metal box for over a century. Speaking to "Good Morning America," Owatonna Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Elstad said there were a lot of documents found in the capsule.

  • Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov help Hurricanes hold on to beat Islanders 3-2 for 3-0 series lead

    NEW YORK (AP) — Defensemen Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov got Carolina off to a fast start and the Hurricanes held on to beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Thursday night for a 3-0 lead in the first-round series. Sebastian Aho also scored for the Hurricanes and Andrei Svechnikov had two assists. Frederik Andersen stopped 29 shots. Carolina won for eighth time in nine games at UBS Arena, which opened for the 2021-22 season. Brock Nelson and Pierre Engvall scored for the Islanders. They are a loss a

  • US-China talks start with warnings about misunderstandings and miscalculations

    The United States and China butted heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. “Overall, the China-U.S. relationship is beginning to stabilize across the areas,” Wang told Blinken. “Should China and the United States keep to the right direction of moving forward with stability or return to a downward spiral?” he asked.

  • Colts snap record streak of 14 straight offensive players taken in NFL draft with UCLA DE Latu

    UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu was the first defensive player selected in the NFL draft Thursday night, going No. 15 overall to Indianapolis to snap a record streak of 14 straight offensive players selected. The latest a first round had previously gone before a defensive player was taken was No. 8 overall. Not only were the 14 straight offensive players to start the draft a record, it was the first time 14 straight offensive players were taken at any point in the draft.

  • Michigan woman charged in boat club crash that killed 2 children released on bond

    Marshella Chidester is charged in the fatal crash at the Swan Boat Club in Monroe County. She has been released on a $1.5 million bond.

  • Manchester mayor announces overdose prevention plan for city

    Manchester mayor announces overdose prevention plan for city

  • Falcons provide first NFL draft surprise by taking Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. with No. 8 pick

    FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons provided the first major surprise of the NFL draft by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. of Washington with the No. 8 overall pick on Thursday night. The Falcons extended their recent trend of selecting offensive skill players in the first round by drafting Penix one month after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. Using a draft slot normally targeted for players expected to make an immediate

  • Colts take first defensive player of NFL draft, UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu at No. 15

    INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts took the first defensive player in the NFL draft Thursday night, choosing edge rusher Laiatu Latu of UCLA with the 15th pick. Latu's selection ended a 14-player run on offense — a draft record. Last season's Pac-12 defensive player of the year is expected to beef up Indy's outside pass rush and should complement an interior defensive line led by two-time Pro Bowler DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. The Colts recorded 51 sacks last season, the most si

  • Did the Raiders make the correct choice by selecting Brock Bowers?

    Yahoo Sports' Draft Live Crew responds to the Las Vegas Raiders' selection of Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick, discussing whether or not he fills the team's most pressing need.

  • Caleb Williams hype video: Welcome to the Chicago Bears

    The Caleb Williams era is officially underway with the Bears. Here's a hype video to get you even more excited:

  • Former Webster County deputy settles civil rights complaint against sheriff

    Former Webster County deputy settles civil rights complaint against sheriff

  • Seahawks target the defensive line by selecting Byron Murphy II from Texas with No. 16 pick in draft

    RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks filled a need on the defensive front, selecting Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II with the No. 16 pick of the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday. The first draft under new coach Mike Macdonald went to the defensive side of the ball with the first selection of his tenure and bolstered a clear area Seattle needed improvement. The Seahawks had veteran Jarran Reed at the position, but otherwise lacked an impactful second option. Murphy could end u

  • Police investigate second deadly crash on Pelham road in two days

    Police investigate second deadly crash on Pelham road in two days

  • How ‘Water for Elephants’ Composers PigPen Used Their Background as Puppeteers to Bring the Circus Show’s Theatrics to Life

    The music and lyrics in Broadway’s “Water for Elephants” are expansive and a rich tapestry of American music ranging from folk, to swing, jazz and bluegrass. PigPen, a collective of seven musicians (Alex Falberg, Arya Shahi, Ben Ferguson, Curtis Gillen, Daniel Weschler, Matt Nuernberger and Ryan Melia) is also a theater company, and that uniqueness …

  • Grace Kim shoots 7-under 64 at Wilshire Country Club to lead LPGA Tour's JM Eagle LA Championship

    LOS ANGLES (AP) — Grace Kim shot a 7-under 64 at Wilshire Country Club to take the first-round lead Thursday in the LPGA Tour's JM Eagle LA Championship. Playing in the morning session, the 23-year-old Australian capped her bogey-free round with a chip-in birdie on the par-3 18th. “Well, I chunked my tee shot on the last hole 20 meters short and then I chipped it in it,” Kim said. “I think that’s pretty cool, in front of everyone.” Maja Stark of Sweden, Sei Young Kim of South Korea and Chanettee

  • China passes tariff law as tensions with trading partners simmer

    China on Friday passed a law leaving its biggest trade partners in no doubt that it can hit back should they put tariffs on the exports of the world's No.2 economy as Washington and Brussels take aim at Beijing over excess industrial capacity. The Tariff Law, which was approved by China's top legislature after three rounds of deliberations going back to 2022, is the latest addition to Beijing's arsenal of trade defence instruments as it maintains an uneasy truce with the U.S. following a trade war that kicked off during the Trump administration. The law, which will take effect from Dec. 1, outlines a range of legal provisions related to tariffs on Chinese imports and exports, from what constitutes tax incentives to China's right to hit back at countries that renege on trade agreements.

  • Dow Jones Futures: Microsoft, Google Jump; New Market Rally Still Must Do This

    Microsoft and Google jumped on earnings late after the market rally attempt showed resilience Wednesday amid Meta's sell-off.

  • Indianapolis Colts pick UCLA DL Laiatu Latu in Round 1 of 2024 NFL draft. What to know

    Laiatu Latu racked up 13 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss last season to lead UCLA. Here’s what to know about Latu.