{"id":10657,"date":"2026-01-09T00:26:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T00:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=10657"},"modified":"2026-01-09T00:26:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T00:26:25","slug":"tennessee-theater-professor-reinstated-with-500000-settlement-after-losing-his-job-over-a-charlie-kirk-related-social-media-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=10657","title":{"rendered":"Tennessee theater professor reinstated, with $500,000 settlement, after losing his job over a Charlie Kirk-related social media post"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Austin Peay State University has reinstated a professor who was fired for his social media post after the\u00a0killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Tennessee school is also paying the teacher $500,000 in the settlement.<\/p>\n

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Austin Peay spokesperson Brian Dunn said Darren Michael returned to his position as a tenured faculty member at the public university in Clarksville effective Dec. 30. A copy of the settlement agreement obtained through a public records request includes a $500,000 payment and reimbursement of counseling, as reported earlier this week by\u00a0WKRN-TV.<\/p>\n

Tennessee\u2019s governor, attorney general and comptroller signed a document authorizing the settlement payment.<\/p>\n

Michael, a theater and dance professor, was among people who reported facing a\u00a0conservative backlash and punishment at work\u00a0for their online posts about Kirk\u2019s fatal shooting in September. He was later moved to a suspension status.<\/p>\n

In a Dec. 30 email to the university community, Austin Peay President Mike Licari said the school did not follow the required tenure termination process. The communication was another requirement under the settlement.<\/p>\n

Licari added, \u201cI deeply regret and apologize for the impact this has had on Professor Michael and on our campus community. I am committed to ensuring that due process and fairness are upheld in all future actions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two days after Kirk\u2019s killing, Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee circulated a screenshot indicating Michael on Sept. 10 had posted the headline of a 2023 news article reading, \u201cCharlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths \u2018Unfortunately\u2019 Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment.\u201d Blackburn, who is also a candidate for governor, included a photograph and biography of Michael. She wrote, \u201cWhat do you say, Austin Peay State University?\u201d and tagged the university\u2019s account.<\/p>\n

Blackburn\u2019s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the settlement.<\/p>\n

David L. King, Michael\u2019s attorney, said the professor said \u201cnothing that was threatening or otherwise offensive.\u201d King decried the pressure applied by \u201coutside forces\u201d and said the ordeal \u201ccaused a great deal of harm\u201d to Michael and his daughter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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#Tennessee #theater #professor #reinstated #settlement #losing #job #Charlie #Kirkrelated #social #media #post<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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