Clemson Professor Faces Calls for Dismissal After Celebrating Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

Lead Clemson University is under pressure to fire a professor after he celebrated the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on social media, prompting the school to affirm free-speech limits on threats and incitement.

Nut Graf As right-wing activists on X escalate an online campaign demanding the professor’s removal, Clemson’s leadership has issued a statement underscoring its commitment to free expression while warning that speech advocating violence violates campus policy.

What Happened

  • Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during a September 10 campus event at Utah Valley University by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who has since been arrested without bail.
  • In the wake of Kirk’s death, several professors and staff nationwide have been dismissed for praising the shooting; Clemson’s unnamed faculty member publicly lauded the assassination online.
  • Congressman William Timmons decried the professor’s remarks as “absolutely disgusting” and called for immediate termination.

Clemson’s Response

  • On September 12, Clemson University released a statement emphasizing that while the First Amendment protects robust debate, it does not shield speech that constitutes a genuine threat or incitement of harm.
  • The university pledged to investigate the professor’s comments and to take “appropriate action” if they are found to violate institutional policies.

Wider Repercussions

  • Inside Higher Ed reports that at least five college employees have already been fired for similar remarks about Kirk’s death, including instructors at community colleges in North Carolina and Tennessee.
  • Campus leaders nationwide face mounting pressure to balance free-speech protections with the need to maintain a safe, respectful learning environment.

What’s Next Clemson’s inquiry is ongoing. The professor in question remains on staff pending the outcome, while X users and elected officials continue to demand swift disciplinary measures.