Austin Peay State University has reinstated tenured theatre professor Darren Michael after he was fired over a controversial social media post following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Michael and the university settled last month, resulting in his return to the job. What's more, Austin Peay will pay Michael half a million dollars as reimbursement for what is being described as "therapeutic counseling services.”
WKRN News 2, a local ABC News affiliate, obtained a copy of the settlement, which also indicates the school is to issue a "statement acknowledging regret" for failing to follow proper procedures.
“APSU agrees to issue a statement acknowledging regret for not following the tenure termination process in connection with the Dispute,” the settlement reads, according to the outlet.
That statement, which amounts to an apology of sorts, will be sent out to faculty, staff, and students.
READ MORE: Hateful Charlie Kirk Detractors Are Losing Their Jobs, and It's Glorious
Michael was fired in September 2025, shortly after Kirk's assassination, due to a Facebook post in which he reshared a 2023 Newsweek headline indicating the Turning Point USA founder viewed gun deaths as worth it to preserve the Second Amendment.
It wasn't necessarily that straightforward. Kirk had opined that it is unrealistic to expect zero gun deaths in a society with an armed citizenry. It is simply reality. He also advocated for reducing violence through measures such as armed guards at schools and airports, rather than gun control.
The professor posted the headline after Kirk's death, but offered no additional commentary. It caught the attention of Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who called out Austin Peay on social media.
“What do you say, Austin Peay?” she wrote on X, including an image of Michael's post and his bio.
What do you say, @austinpeay? pic.twitter.com/dTgCe4iv5l
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) September 12, 2025
The university issued a statement shortly thereafter announcing that the professor had been fired for comments they described as “insensitive, disrespectful, and interpreted by many as propagating justification for unlawful death."
“Such actions do not align with Austin Peay’s commitment to mutual respect and human dignity," Austin Peay President Mike Licari added. "The university deems these actions unacceptable and has terminated the faculty member.”
It wasn't long before Michael was moved to suspension instead, and a seeming acknowledgement that they had not followed proper protocols for a tenured professor.
Licari has now issued a new statement following Michael's reinstatement.
“APSU did not follow the required termination process in this matter, and I deeply regret and apologize for the impact this has had on Professor Michael and on our campus community,” he said. “I am committed to ensuring that due process and fairness are upheld in all future actions.”
RedState has covered several instances of individuals being fired or punished for unhinged comments following Kirk's murder, including some high-profile cases with the Carolina Panthers, the Secret Service, and American Airlines.
Will Michael's case spark other instances in which some individuals are reinstated in accordance with proper procedure?
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