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Coverage dated January 6, 2026 to January 8, 2026

Professor fired over Charlie Kirk post wins $500,000 and gets job back

Headline from Newsweek

Newest development Jan 9, 2026 · 3 reportsTennessee university reinstates professor fired for Charlie Kirk post and settles for $500k

A Tennessee professor who was removed over a social media post about Charlie Kirk's death has been reinstated.

Newsweek's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Professor fired over Charlie Kirk post wins $500,000 and gets job back

    Headline from Newsweek ·

  2. Newest

    Tennessee university reinstates professor fired for Charlie Kirk post and settles for $500k

    Headline from Bangor Daily News ·

1 report not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

7 articles, oldest first.

  1. Fox News

    Tennessee professor fired over Charlie Kirk post reinstated, reportedly receives large financial settlement (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    A Tennessee college professor reportedly received a $500,000 settlement after being fired over a social media post about Charlie Kirk's death, as the university admitted failures.

  2. RedState

    Professor Fired Over Charlie Kirk Posts Is Reinstated – And You Won’t Believe How Much He Got Paid (opens RedState)

    Published

    RedState's feed description

    Professor Darren Michael is reinstated after being fired for controversial Charlie Kirk posts.

  3. Newsweek

    Professor fired over Charlie Kirk post wins $500,000 and gets job back (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    A Tennessee professor who was removed over a social media post about Charlie Kirk's death has been reinstated.

  4. The College Fix

    Tennessee university reinstates professor fired for Charlie Kirk post, settles for $500,000 (opens The College Fix)

    Published

    The College Fix's feed description

    ‘It was a very, very traumatic circumstance for him and his family,’ lawyer said.

  5. Bangor Daily News

    Tennessee university reinstates professor fired for Charlie Kirk post and settles for $500k (opens Bangor Daily News)

    Published

    Bangor Daily News's feed description

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Austin Peay State University has reinstated a professor who was fired for his social media post after the killing of conservative

  6. The Guardian

    Tennessee university reinstates professor fired for post criticizing Charlie Kirk (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Austin Peay State University will also pay theater and dance professor Darren Michael $500,000 in settlement

  7. Fortune

    Tennessee theater professor reinstated, with $500,000 settlement, after losing his job over a Charlie Kirk-related social media post (opens Fortune)

    Published

    Fortune's feed description

    Sen. Marsha Blackburn had circulated a screenshot indicating the professor had posted a headline about Charlie Kirk's stance on the 2nd Amendment.