Darren Michael, a professor at Austin Peay State University, has filed a lawsuit against Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn in Middle District Court, alleging that she leveraged her political power to coerce his employer into terminating his employment. The dispute stems from Michael’s social media activity following an incident at Utah Valley University.
Michael posted a screenshot of a 2023 Newsweek headline on Facebook in which conservative activist Charlie Kirk made statements regarding gun deaths and Second Amendment protections. The post gained visibility when conservative figures on social media amplified it, including Blackburn, who shared the post on X and directed a message to Austin Peay State University asking for their response. Two days after these posts circulated, Michael was terminated from his position. In his termination letter, university president Mike Licari cited reputational damage to the institution resulting from the social media posts.
Michael’s complaint asserts that Blackburn’s public post constituted a direct call for disciplinary action against him and created substantial coercive pressure on the university to terminate or sanction him in retaliation for his protected speech. According to the lawsuit, during a meeting with university officials before his termination, Michael was informed that the university was facing pressure from Blackburn regarding his employment status. The complaint further notes that university leadership subsequently referenced the political climate as justification for the termination decision.
Michael is seeking injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and a declaration that Blackburn’s actions violated his First and 14th Amendment rights. He previously sued Austin Peay State University and secured reinstatement along with a $500,000 settlement in December. Blackburn’s campaign representatives have not yet been formally served with the lawsuit and have characterized the claims as meritless, describing the case as an attempt to punish the senator for exercising her right to criticize public statements. Blackburn is currently the Republican nominee for governor of Tennessee.
This case follows a similar pattern involving other public figures and academics. Bridget Sullivan, a former Wake Forest University athletics trainer, sued North Carolina Representative Pat Harrigan over his public posts regarding her social media activity following the same incident. Additionally, journalism professor Steven Thrasher filed suit in July against multiple government officials, including Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., over allegations of political pressure related to his tenure denial.
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