Former UT Knoxville professor Tamar Shirinian was fired in February, five months after she posted on Facebook that the “world is better off without [Kirk] in it.”
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The University of Tennessee System will pay $1.9 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a former professor who was fired for comments she made about the late conservative pundit Charlie Kirk, Knox News reported Monday. State officials must now approve the settlement.
Tamar Shirinian, an assistant anthropology professor, was fired in February, five months after she posted on Facebook that the “world is better off without [Kirk] in it” and called his wife, Erika, a “sick fuck for marrying him.” Shirinian sued, arguing that her First Amendment rights were violated and calling on the court to disclose the name of a donor who threatened to pull a $10 million gift if she was not fired, Knox News reported. Shirinian will not be reinstated.
“My client is pleased that the parties reached a resolution,” Shirinian’s attorney, Robb Bigelow, told Knox News. “Litigation is always difficult, and we’re grateful to everyone on both sides who worked diligently to bring this matter to a close … We believe the resolution reflects the seriousness of the issues while allowing everyone to move forward. We wish the University nothing but success in the future.”
