CLARKSVILLE, TN (WKRN) – Austin Peay State University will pay one of its professors $500,000 after initially firing him for a social media post made in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death.
Darren Michael, an associate professor of acting and directing at APSU, was fired by the institution last year after comments on Kirk’s death. In September, APSU moved Michael to suspension before fully bringing him back into the classroom last month.
On Monday, WKRN News 2 obtained a copy of a settlement agreement and settlement authorization indicating APSU will pay Michael $500,000 and reimburse therapeutic counseling services for Michael.
Michael had shared an article quoting Kirk’s own thoughts about gun violence. That post gained the attention of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who posted a screenshot of Michael’s post to X along with his headshot and biography. “What do you say, @austinpeay?” the caption to Blackburn’s post reads.
“APSU agrees to issue a statement acknowledging regret for not following the tenure termination process in connection with the Dispute,” the compromise and settlement agreement reads in part. “… The statement will be distributed via email through APSU’s reasonable communication channels to faculty, staff, and students.”
On Dec. 30, APSU sent an email to the campus community stating that that due process for a tenured professor had not been followed and that Michael would return to his position.
Clarksville Now reached out to APSU officials, who declined to comment on the settlement. Clarksville Now has previously reached out to Professor Michael.
Clarksville Now contributed to this report by news partner WKRN News 2 in Nashville.
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