A university professor in the United States, who was dismissed last year after sharing a social media post in the wake of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk's assassination, has been reinstated to his position and awarded a substantial financial settlement.
The Controversial Post and Swift Dismissal
Darren Michael, a tenured associate professor of acting and directing at Austin Peay State University (APSU) in Tennessee, was fired in September. The termination came shortly after he shared a 2023 article with the headline: 'Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths 'Unfortunately' Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment.' This occurred on the same day Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead in a politically-motivated attack at Utah Valley University.
The professor's actions were thrust into the national spotlight when Senator Marsha Blackburn shared a screenshot of his post on her gubernatorial campaign social media, directly tagging the university. APSU President Mike Licari swiftly announced Michael's termination, stating the reshared post was "insensitive, disrespectful and interpreted by many as propagating justification for unlawful death."
University Admits Fault in Due Process
However, the university's position quickly unravelled. APSU soon backtracked, moving Michael's status from termination to suspension after admitting it had not followed the required tenure dismissal process. This procedural failure proved costly.
On 30 December, a settlement was reached. Michael was fully reinstated to his position, a post he has held since 2007. Furthermore, the university agreed to pay him $500,000 to reimburse therapeutic counselling services he underwent as a result of the incident.
Apology and a Wider Wave of Dismissals
As part of the settlement, APSU also issued a formal apology. President Licari stated publicly: "APSU did not follow the required termination process in this matter, and I deeply regret and apologise for the impact this has had on Professor Michael and on our campus community." The university promised to circulate this apology via email to all faculty, staff, and students.
Michael's case was not isolated. His dismissal in September was part of a significant wave of firings following Kirk's death. Dozens of professionals, including professors and commentators, lost their jobs in the US and internationally for making insensitive comments about the late activist on social media.
Unlike Michael, most of those dismissed have not been reinstated. Examples include a California sociology professor who shared a meme celebrating Kirk's death, a University of Toronto professor who made inflammatory remarks, and a Kansas psychology professor who referenced 'karma'.
This case highlights the intense pressures on academic freedom and employment rights in the highly charged atmosphere following a major political assassination, underscoring the critical importance of institutional due process.
