Professor Fired for Criticizing Charlie Kirk Reaches $1.9 Million Settlement

[dalton99a]

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/us/tennessee-professor-charlie-kirk-settlement.html

Professor Fired for Criticizing Charlie Kirk Reaches $1.9 Million Settlement
Tamar Shirinian, a former professor at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, was among those who lost their jobs over their posts about the slain conservative activist.
By Madaleine Rubin
July 1, 2026, 2:43 a.m. ET

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has agreed to pay $1.9 million to a former professor who was fired for a private Facebook post denigrating Charlie Kirk after he was assassinated, the latest in a series of legal settlements offered to employees dismissed or reprimanded after criticizing the conservative activist.

Tamar Shirinian, who was an anthropology professor at the university, sued the school and several top officials last year. She claimed that the university had violated her constitutional rights by penalizing her for comments that were made privately and protected by the First Amendment. Robb Bigelow, a Nashville-based lawyer who represented Ms. Shirinian, confirmed the settlement in an interview on Tuesday.

On Sept. 12, 2025, two days after Mr. Kirk was killed, Ms. Shirinian responded to a friend’s post on Facebook, calling the activist a “disgusting psychopath” and mentioning his wife and children. “The world is better off without him in it,” she wrote.

While the First Amendment protects most political expression, the Supreme Court has established that public institutions have some power to limit employees’ speech on matters of public concern if those comments hinder the institution’s capacity to function.

Still, employees disciplined or discharged for negative comments about Mr. Kirk have won large payouts from their former employers.

...

[spooky3]

1. As a retired prof, I find it hard to imagine how comments like hers

Could possibly have hindered a large university’s ability to function. Ludicrous.

If she had said that about any Dem public figure, there would have been no lawsuit filed in the first place.

[sop]

3. And on a private Facebook post.

[Midnight Writer]

2. Is this like the E Jean Carroll lawsuit where the University simply appeals it over and over for years?

Trump has taught me that losing a lawsuit doesn't actually mean having to pay.

It just means endless appeals by the entity that has the most money.

Will the Professor ever collect a dime?

I see Trump plans to appeal again even after the Supreme Court ruled against him.

[sop]

4. It was a settlement, not a jury award.

[MissouriDem47]

13. The Article says that

The article says that the University has agreed to pay, it was a settlement not a court judgement.

[mwmisses4289]

5. Good. Hope others who were fired for this same reason and filed lawsuits also win their cases.

[Figarosmom]

6. Well, I guess this administration has

Created some left leaning millionaires after all. Free speech even means saying bad things about the dead. Or even repeating the bad things the dead person said.

[Peppertoo]

7. Good

[twodogsbarking]

8. Shout out to her attorneys. They aren't all bad despite the jokes.

[Stacey Grove]

9. I could never mourn the loss

of racist filth like Chuckie Kirk.

[70sEraVet]

10. Good.

It just a shame that the University has to lose the money, because of a stupid decision made by the leadership of UT Knoxville. Surely, they have intelligent legal advisors?

[MissouriDem47]

11. Good!

[Initech]

12. Charlie Kirk waged a war on education. TPUSA has no place on any campus. PERIOD.