Professor Fired Over Charlie Kirk Post Gets Job Back, Plus $500K

A Tennessee university will pay a professor $500,000 and reinstate him after firing him over a social media post about Charlie Kirk’s killing—an action the school later admitted violated its own rules, the New York Times reports.

Austin Peay State University in Clarksville dismissed tenured theater professor Darren Michael in September following a Facebook post about Kirk, a conservative activist and ally of President Trump who was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10. Two days after the shooting, Michael shared a 2023 Newsweek article quoting Kirk defending gun rights, which had the headline, “Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths ‘Unfortunately’ Worth It to Keep 2nd Amendment.” Michael’s post sparked criticism from conservatives, including Senator Marsha Blackburn, who tagged the university on Facebook and asked, “What do you say, Austin Peay State University?”

That same day, university president Michael Licari emailed Michael, notifying him that he was being fired “effective immediately” over posts that allegedly caused “significant reputational damage” to the school and were seen as “disrespectful” and as justifying “unlawful death,” according to documents obtained by the Times. Less than two weeks later, however, the public university reversed course, acknowledging it had violated Michael’s due-process rights. He was placed on paid suspension while the school reconsidered termination.

The dispute concluded December 30 with a settlement that reinstated Michael, 56, and awarded him $500,000, avoiding a potential wrongful-termination lawsuit. Michael will also be reimbursed for therapeutic counseling he received following what his lawyer described as a “traumatic” experience. The settlement, first reported by Nashville station WKRN, was approved by Tennessee’s governor, attorney general, and comptroller.

Michael’s attorney, David L. King, said his client’s post was simply a repost of Kirk’s own words and argued that the university had bowed to political pressure. Austin Peay confirmed Michael’s reinstatement but declined further comment. Clarksville Now reported that Licari apologized to the school community for not following the “required tenure termination process.” King said he is still “exploring future options” against those who “interfered with [Michael’s] First Amendment rights,” according to the Tennessean. For now, he said, Michael is happy to return to the classroom: “He’s been agonizing over being able to provide for his students during this time.”

Meanwhile, other educators across the country are involved in similar lawsuits over controversial firings.

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