Darren Michael, an associate professor at Austin Peay State University, has been reinstated and awarded $500,000 after being fired over social media posts linked to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
According to a settlement obtained by WKRN News 2, the university agreed to pay Michael the sum and cover the cost of therapeutic counseling services. The agreement also states that the school will issue a formal message expressing regret for failing to follow proper tenure-termination procedures, to be shared with faculty, staff, and students.
The university confirmed that Michael returned to his position in late December.
Michael was dismissed on September 12, just two days after Kirk’s assassination, following the spread of posts he had shared online. One post, highlighted by Senator Marsha Blackburn, included a headline quoting Kirk on gun deaths and the Second Amendment. The university initially said the firing was due to what it described as “insensitive comments” on social media.
At the time, APSU President Mike Licari said the posts did not reflect the school’s values of respect and dignity. However, in a later statement, Licari acknowledged the university failed to follow required disciplinary procedures.
“APSU did not follow the proper termination process in this case, and I deeply regret the impact this had on Professor Michael and our campus community,” he said, adding that the school is committed to ensuring due process in the future.