Austin Peay State University has reinstated tenured theatre professor Darren Michael, who was previously dismissed over a controversial social media post related to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The resolution came last month when Michael and the university reached a settlement allowing him to return to his position. Additionally, Austin Peay is set to compensate Michael with $500,000, which is described as coverage for “therapeutic counseling services.”

Local ABC News affiliate WKRN News 2 acquired a copy of this settlement, which also stipulates that the university must release a “statement acknowledging regret” for its procedural missteps.

As per the settlement details reported by the outlet, “APSU agrees to issue a statement acknowledging regret for not following the tenure termination process in connection with the Dispute.”

This statement, essentially an apology, is scheduled to be distributed to the university’s faculty, staff, and students.

That statement, which amounts to an apology of sorts, will be sent out to faculty, staff, and students.

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Michael was fired in September 2025, shortly after Kirk’s assassination, due to a Facebook post in which he reshared a 2023 Newsweek headline indicating the Turning Point USA founder viewed gun deaths as worth it to preserve the Second Amendment.

It wasn’t necessarily that straightforward. Kirk had opined that it is unrealistic to expect zero gun deaths in a society with an armed citizenry. It is simply reality. He also advocated for reducing violence through measures such as armed guards at schools and airports, rather than gun control.

The professor posted the headline after Kirk’s death, but offered no additional commentary. It caught the attention of Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who called out Austin Peay on social media.

“What do you say, Austin Peay?” she wrote on X, including an image of Michael’s post and his bio.

What do you say, @austinpeay? pic.twitter.com/dTgCe4iv5l

— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) September 12, 2025

The university issued a statement shortly thereafter announcing that the professor had been fired for comments they described as “insensitive, disrespectful, and interpreted by many as propagating justification for unlawful death.”

“Such actions do not align with Austin Peay’s commitment to mutual respect and human dignity,” Austin Peay President Mike Licari added. “The university deems these actions unacceptable and has terminated the faculty member.”

It wasn’t long before Michael was moved to suspension instead, and a seeming acknowledgement that they had not followed proper protocols for a tenured professor.

Licari has now issued a new statement following Michael’s reinstatement.

“APSU did not follow the required termination process in this matter, and I deeply regret and apologize for the impact this has had on Professor Michael and on our campus community,” he said. “I am committed to ensuring that due process and fairness are upheld in all future actions.”

RedState has covered several instances of individuals being fired or punished for unhinged comments following Kirk’s murder, including some high-profile cases with the Carolina Panthers, the Secret Service, and American Airlines.

Will Michael’s case spark other instances in which some individuals are reinstated in accordance with proper procedure?

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