Clemson caves, purging faculty who mocked Kirk’s death after initial defiance

Clemson University on Monday caved to GOP pressure and terminated an employee and suspended two others who mocked Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk’s death.

Several Clemson employees were accused of posting inappropriate content on social media in response to Kirk’s death, including calling it “one of the most beautiful days ever,” and signifying support for his assassin. The university initially said it condemned the comments from the professors but would take action only against “a genuine threat.” However, after calls from several Republican lawmakers and even attention from President Donald Trump, Clemson eventually announced it suspended and later fired one faculty member.

“Clemson University unequivocally condemns any and all expressions that endorse, glorify or celebrate political violence. The deeply inappropriate remarks made on social media in response to the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk are reprehensible and do not reflect the University values and principles that define our University community,” the university wrote in a Sept. 12 message. “We will take appropriate action for speech that constitutes a genuine threat which is not protected by the Constitution.”

Two other faculty members “have been removed from their teaching duties pending investigation for termination,” Clemson announced.

Clemson did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

One assistant professor at Clemson allegedly posted on X on the day of Kirk’s assassination “Today was one of the most beautiful days ever. The weather was perfect, sunny with a little breeze. This was such a beautiful day.” In a separate post responding to another user who said “He was an old looking 31” about Kirk, the professor responded “Racism and White Supremacy age you.”

I am very disturbed by the repugnant behavior of a @ClemsonUniv professor, Melvin Earl Villaver.

Celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death is sick. What kind of depraved person thinks this is acceptable?

Our tax dollars should not pay him another damn dime. I call on Clemson to fire… pic.twitter.com/O3JBeSweRV

— Russell Fry (@RussellFrySC) September 11, 2025

The same professor allegedly reposted several X posts about the assassination, including offensively describing Kirk as having been “worried about DEI and DIED instead.” The professor also reportedly shared posts reading “no one mourns the wicked…” and “according to Kirk, empathy is a made-up new age term, so keep the jokes coming. it’s what he would’ve wanted.”

Another Clemson faculty member allegedly posted “In a world full of Charlie Kirks and Brian Thompsons, be a Tyler Robinson or Luigi Mangione” in reference to Kirk’s alleged murderer and UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer.

IT ONLY GETS WORSE: a THIRD member of @ClemsonUniv Faculty has been found spouting EGREGIOUS hate on his social media after Kirk’s assassination. This is the worst one yet!

Robin Newberry has been at Clemson for decades in the position of Asbestos Program Manager, where he makes… pic.twitter.com/86Z1l1r9Ye

— Clemson College Republicans (@ClemsonCRs) September 12, 2025

“Fuck these Nazis,” another post by the faculty member allegedly reads. “They stood by and said nothing when democrats were assassinated, but now that one of their own – a cancer on our constitution that has now thankfully been ameliorated – they lose their shit.”

One other assistant professor at Clemson allegedly reposted someone saying “it sounds to me like karma is sometimes swift and ironic. As Kirk said, ‘play certain games, win certain prizes.’”

THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT. We have ANOTHER leftist assistant professor at Clemson, Josh Bregy, in a now-deleted post assenting to the idea that Kirk’s assassination is a result of KARMA. WHO ARE YOU HIRING @ClemsonUniv @clemsonpres ??? END THIS NOW. @libsoftiktok pic.twitter.com/X9oiDxs3Q4

— Clemson College Republicans (@ClemsonCRs) September 12, 2025

South Carolina Republicans Sen, Lindsey Graham, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson all spoke out against the professors and called on their terminations and for the Trump administration to cut the school’s federal funding. The House Judiciary Committee’s GOP also advocated for the defunding. (RELATED: Anti-Trump Historian Claims With Straight Face Left Wing Wasn’t ‘Celebrating’ Charlie Kirk Assassination)

Wilson sent a letter to Clemson on Monday calling on the school to address the “vile, repulsive, and even incendiary comments,” rejecting the school’s assertion that it has no ability to fire the perpetrators.

Professors at other universities have also been exposed for similarly mocking Kirk’s death, and several have since been fired.

Kirk was shot and killed on Wednesday at a campus speaking event at Utah Valley University. The alleged gunman was arrested two days later and is currently being held without bail.

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