The University of Tennessee System Board of Trustees has agreed to pay a $1.9 million settlement to former assistant professor Tamar Shirinian, whom the university fired after she made a disparaging online comment about the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Tamar Shirinian, who was on the faculty at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, filed a federal lawsuit last year contending the university violated her First Amendment rights when she was suspended for a comment she made after Kirk was killed.
Under the settlement, Shirinian will not be reinstated at the university.
"My client is pleased that the parties reached a resolution," said Shirinian's attorney, Robb Bigelow. "Litigation is always difficult, and we're grateful to everyone on both sides who worked diligently to bring this matter to a close.'
The situation began Sept. 12, 2025, two days after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot to death on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem. Shirinian made a Facebook comment on a friend's private post, saying in part that the "world is better off without him in it."
The comment spread online, and the university was urged to fire Shirinian.
Chancellor Donde Plowman suspended Shirinian in September and began the firing process against her. Plowman finalized her decision to fire Shirinian on Feb. 11.
