Americans who lost their jobs after posting about Charlie Kirk’s killing are still dealing with the consequences a year later.
Some were fired or disciplined after criticizing Kirk or responding to his death on social media. Others challenged their dismissals in court and secured settlements ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to nearly $2 million.
But several of those who spoke publicly about their experiences said they still do not regret what they posted.
Charlie Kirk Job-Loss Controversy at a Glance
| Issue | What happened |
|---|---|
| Trigger | Social media posts after Kirk’s killing |
| Reported scale | More than 600 firings or disciplinary cases in a Reuters tally |
| Workers affected | Teachers, professors, journalists, public employees, and others |
| Major settlement | $1.9 million in Tamar Shirinian case |
| Other settlement | $485,000 for Brittney Brown |
| Other settlement | $500,000 for Darren Michael |
| Karen Attiah | Ordered reinstated with back pay |
| Private-sector issue | Many workers are employed at-will |
| Main legal question | Whether employers violated protected speech rights |
A Sports Writer Lost His Career
Gerald Bourguet was working full time as a professional basketball writer when Kirk was killed.
After the shooting, Bourguet posted several critical comments about Kirk. He described the conservative activist as an “evil man” and criticized what he viewed as Kirk’s political positions.
The posts spread online.
Bourguet said he was fired from PHNX Sports. His home address was subsequently exposed online, and he began receiving threatening messages.
Concerned about his family, Bourguet and his wife left their state with their four-month-old son. They eventually returned to sell their house before relocating permanently.
A year later, Bourguet said he still does not regret what he wrote.
But he also said the consequences changed his life permanently.
“At age 35, I am having to start over,” he told the BBC.
The Calls to Punish Kirk’s Critics
The backlash was amplified by conservative political figures and online personalities.
Right-wing commentator Laura Loomer warned Kirk’s critics that their professional futures could be damaged.
Vice President JD Vance also urged people who were celebrating Kirk’s killing to identify them publicly and contact their employers.
The pressure campaign quickly moved beyond social media.
Employers across the country began investigating posts and taking disciplinary action against workers.
The issue also triggered a debate about whether criticism of Kirk was being treated the same way as celebrating political violence.
More Than 600 Cases Were Reported
A Reuters tally cited by the BBC found more than 600 instances of people being fired or disciplined over comments connected to Kirk.
The actual number is difficult to establish because many cases were handled privately and never received significant media coverage.
The people involved also ranged widely.
They included educators, university professors, government employees, journalists, and private-sector workers.
Some posts directly celebrated or criticized Kirk’s death.
Others involved older comments, memes or articles about his political positions.
Brittney Brown Lost Her Job Over a Meme
Brittney Brown, a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, was fired after reposting a meme that mocked Kirk’s position on gun violence.
Brown said the firing was devastating.
She eventually agreed to a $485,000 settlement.
The amount was roughly 12 times her annual salary, according to the BBC.
Brown said the settlement did not feel like justice because she would have preferred to keep her job.
Tamar Shirinian Won a $1.9 Million Settlement
Anthropology professor Tamar Shirinian was suspended and later fired after writing on Facebook that “the world is better off” without Kirk.
She later apologized to the university for the tone of the comment.
But Shirinian said she did not regret the underlying sentiment.
The University of Tennessee ultimately agreed to pay $1.9 million to resolve her lawsuit.
The settlement did not return her to the university. She also agreed not to seek another position there.
Another Professor Was Reinstated
Darren Michael, a theatre professor at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, was fired after sharing a screenshot of a 2023 article about Kirk’s controversial comments on gun rights.
The post did not directly comment on Kirk’s death.
Michael was later reinstated.
In January, the university agreed to pay him $500,000 to settle his legal claims.
Karen Attiah Won a Major Employment Fight
Washington Post opinion journalist Karen Attiah was another prominent case.
Attiah was fired after posting that she would not participate in “performative mourning” for Kirk.
An arbitrator later ordered The Washington Post to rehire her with back pay.
The ruling became one of the most closely watched employment disputes arising from the backlash over Kirk-related social-media posts.
Public Employees Face Different Rules
The legal picture is not the same for everyone who lost a job.
Government institutions generally face constitutional restrictions that private employers do not.
That distinction has been central to many of the lawsuits.
Union protections can also give employees additional rights.
By contrast, many private-sector workers in the United States are employed under at-will arrangements, allowing employers to terminate workers for many reasons as long as the dismissal does not violate applicable law.
That is one reason Bourguet’s situation is different from some of the public-sector cases that resulted in settlements or reinstatement.
Not Everyone Regrets What They Posted
Despite losing jobs, facing public criticism and dealing with financial consequences, several people interviewed about their cases said they would make the same choice again.
Brown said she believed she had a right to express her views.
Shirinian said she regretted the tone of her post but not the underlying sentiment.
Bourguet made a similar distinction.
He said he did not regret what he said or how he said it, but regretted the consequences for his career and family.
“I don’t regret what I said,” he said.
The Cost Went Beyond Losing a Job
For some workers, the consequences were much broader than unemployment.
Bourguet said his family left their home because of threats and ultimately had to start over elsewhere.
He has since started a podcast but doubts it can replace his previous income.
He has also considered leaving the United States.
Brown, meanwhile, questioned how much public money was spent defending a case involving a job that paid her less than $40,000 a year.
A Bigger Free-Speech Debate
The cases have become part of a broader American argument over free speech, political polarization and workplace consequences.
Supporters of the firings argued that people celebrating political assassination should face social and professional consequences.
Critics argued that employers and political leaders were creating a chilling effect around speech, particularly when comments were made outside the workplace.
The legal outcomes have varied depending on the employer, the employee’s status and the protections available to them.
What Happens Next
Several lawsuits connected to Kirk-related firings remain pending.
For the people who received settlements, the money has provided a way to move forward, but it has not necessarily restored the careers they lost.
For others, there has been no legal victory.
Bourguet remains one of those rebuilding his life after a social-media post turned into a professional crisis.
A year later, his position remains complicated: he regrets what happened to his family and career, but not the words that started it.
