A university professor in Tennessee has been reinstated and awarded a $500,000 settlement after being fired for sharing a news headline about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The settlement was reached in January, according to court documents.
The professor, who was not named in the settlement, posted a 2023 headline that read: 'Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths ‘Unfortunately’ Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment.' The post led to his dismissal from Austin Peay State University.
This case is part of a broader trend of legal actions following Kirk's assassination in September 2025. In a separate incident, a former Ball State University employee, Suzanne Swierc, received $225,000 after being fired for a Facebook post about Kirk. The American Civil Liberties Union represented Swierc, arguing her free speech rights were violated.
Swierc's post described Kirk's killing as a 'tragedy' but also a 'reflection of the violence, fear, and hatred he sowed.' Ball State cited 'significant disruption' caused by the post as grounds for termination.
University presidents have defended such firings, citing threats to enrolment and fundraising. Ball State's president, Geoffrey Mearns, stated that the settlement was less costly than continued litigation.
Legal experts note that public employees have First Amendment protections when speaking as private citizens on matters of public concern, but the line remains contested in social media cases.
