FX Announces Season 2 of Queer Comedy 'The English Teacher,' Stays Mum on Sexual Assault Claim

FX has announced "The English Teacher," about a queer high school educator, will return for Season 2, but had nothing more to say about claims of sexual assault against star Brian Jordan Alvarez.

Alvarez was accused last year of sexual assault by former collaborator Jon Ebeling, who claimed that Alvarez performed oral sex on him without consent while the two were filming a scene for their web sitcom "The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo" in 2016.

Ebeling's accusation was reported by New York Magazine's Vulture in a Dec. 17 article [note: story is behind a paywall], USA Today noted, detailing that "Ebeling said he filed a police report with the Los Angeles Police Department in September and also reported Alvarez to the Screen Actors Guild."

Prior to that, USA Today recalled, Ebeling had hinted at something happening that resembled story points from the Netflix series "Baby Reindeer," in which star and writer Josh Gad depicts a young comedian being sexually exploited by a showbiz mentor.

The scene in question involved Alvarez's character orally servicing Ebeling's character. Rather than pantomiming the act, Ebeling claims, Alvarez – under cover of a blanket – allegedly "pulled down his underwear and actually began performing the act on him," USA Today relayed.

Ebeling told the publication that during the alleged assault, "I am assuming nobody on set knows what's going on under the comforter, and I'm just frozen."

The actor described a situation in which "I didn't know what to do. I'm on set with my director, who is assaulting me. It was a horrible feeling." Added Ebeling: "I was like, 'Wait a second. I didn't consent to this. We didn't talk about this.'"

"I was raped."

Reports said that the moment followed an earlier such interaction between the two men.

"Ebeling told Vulture that he had previously allowed Alvarez to perform oral sex on him after Alvarez was pressuring him to hook up," USA Today reported, while "Alvarez maintained that Ebeling 'enthusiastically gave consent.'"

Attorney Michael J. Kump, representing Alvarez, told Vulture that "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."

"Brian Jordan Alvarez's interactions with Jon Ebeling were always entirely consensual – as numerous witnesses have attested," The Wrap quoted an Alvarez spokesperson saying.

"Indeed, in 2018, two years after this alleged incident, Mr. Ebeling himself unambiguously said as much on tape," the spokesperson went on to say.

"The series originally debuted on FX and Hulu back in September 2024 to positive reviews," Variety noted in a story on the show's renewal. "Brian Jordan Alvarez created the series and also stars."

The outlet quoted FX entertainment head Nick Grad as saying, "'English Teacher' was one of the most critically acclaimed new shows of 2024 and we are grateful to the producers, writers, cast, directors and crew for the show's creative excellence."

Added Grad: "We look forward to the new season."

"FX made no mention of the allegations in its announcement of the renewal," Variety noted, though the cable channel had issued a statement when the allegations first gained publicity.

"We reviewed the allegations presented to us by another media outlet prior to the show's launch," a spokesperson for the cabler said at the time. "Mr. Ebeling never reached out to us with any concerns. We will have no further comment at this time."

Alvarez had been plumping for the renewal, taking to social media with sassy videos that encouraged fans to "binge watch" the show on Hulu in advance of the Season 2 announcement.

"In most of the videos, Alvarez is lip syncing to a pop song before stripping off his clothes while dancing," EDGE reported last November. "Many of the clips find him pulling the stunt in public spaces."

"As a performer, he is best-known for three seasons on 'Will & Grace' (2018-2020) where he played Estéfan Gloria, as well as a featured role in the 2022 horror hit 'M3GAN'," EDGE profiled the writer and star.

At least, until "The English Teacher" came along.

"In the series, Alvarez plays Evan Marquez, a gay high school teacher in Austin, Texas," EDGE explained.

GLAAD thumbnailed the show as follows: "As one of the most progressive people in a liberal-leaning but mostly conservative school, he is on a comedic battleground regarding personal, professional, and political aspects of working at Morrison-Hensley High."