Name: Professor suing to keep job after being fired over Charlie Kirk post
Uploaded: 2025-12-24T03:53:08.952Z
Duration: 2 min 48 s
Description: University of Tennessee professor sues to keep job after controversial Facebook comment about Charlie Kirk assassination.

University of Tennessee professor sues to keep job after controversial Facebook comment about Charlie Kirk assassination.

Nashville

A University of Tennessee assistant professor, Tamar Sherinian, is suing to keep her job after being terminated for a social media comment regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Sherinian, who had worked at the university for five years, posted on Facebook that "the world is better off without him in it," which led to public backlash and calls for her dismissal from figures including Senator Marsha Blackburn.

Sherinian and her attorney argue that her comment, made on personal time, is protected by the First Amendment and that the university is responding to political pressure rather than upholding consistent disciplinary standards. The university placed her on administrative leave with pay and cited gross misconduct and violation of core values as reasons for her termination.

Professor suing to keep job after being fired over Charlie Kirk post

A UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE PROFESSOR IS SUING TO KEEP HER JOB AFTER A CONTROVERSIAL SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENT ABOUT THE ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK. THE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY FACES TERMINATION FOR GROSS MISCONDUCT, BUT SAYS HER FIRING IS REALLY DUE TO POLITICAL PRESSURE. SCRIPTS NEWS GROUP'S BEN HALL IN NASHVILLE SPOKE WITH THE PROFESSOR AND HER ATTORNEY. THE PROFESSOR SAYS SHE MADE THE COMMENT TO A FRIEND AT NIGHT ON HER PERSONAL TIME, BUT IT WAS PICKED UP BY CONSERVATIVE MEDIA, AND SUDDENLY SENATOR MARCIA BLACKBURN AND OTHERS WERE CALLING FOR HER JOB. I was shocked by the reaction, absolutely shocked. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY TAMAR SHERINIAN HAS BEEN AT UT FOR FIVE YEARS, BUT THIS FALL, SHORTLY AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK, SHE RESPONDED TO A FRIEND ON FACEBOOK SAYING, THE WORLD IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT HIM IN IT. SHE CALLED HIM A DISGUSTING PSYCHOPATH, AND SAID SHE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT HIS WIFE'S FEELINGS. If I had known that that was going to be taken out of its private context and made very very public, absolutely I would not have made it. SHE AND HER ATTORNEY ADMITTED ON INSIDE POLITICS THE COMMENT WAS NOT KIND, BUT ARGUED SHE HAD THE RIGHT TO SAY IT OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, AND A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CANNOT FIRE HER. This is about a first amendment case. You're saying she has the right to say these things on her private time, on her private Facebook? That's correct. I mean, the first amendment guarantees citizens that right. BUT UT PUT HER ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE WITH PAY, AND SAID THEY WILL FIRE HER FOR GROSS MISCONDUCT AND VIOLATING THE UNIVERSITY'S CORE VALUES. UT SAID HER RECKLESS USE OF INCENDIARY LANGUAGE DEMONSTRATES A LACK OF FITNESS TO ENGAGE IN TEACHING. My comment was harsh, but it in no way incited violence or celebrated or advocated for violence, which is also what the chancellor and the president have said about my speech. SHE BELIEVES THE UNIVERSITY IS REACTING TO POLITICAL PRESSURE. SENATOR MARCIA BLACKBURN URGED UT TO FIRE HER. Calling for my termination, promising later in her newsletter that she would do everything she can to make sure that I am terminated and that I do not return to education in the state of Tennessee. SHE SAYS THE UNIVERSITY HAS NOT FIRED OTHER PROFESSORS FOR CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS IN THE PAST, AND BELIEVES HER CASE IS BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY. As a government employee, the government doesn't have a right to tell me how I am or am not allowed to express myself in my own private time. PEOPLE AT MTSU AND AUSTIN PEAY HAVE ALSO FACED TERMINATION BECAUSE OF CONTROVERSIAL SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AROUND CHARLIE KIRK.

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