Former professor sues Auburn employees over firing tied to post on Charlie Kirk's death

TONIGHT. A LOCAL PROFESSOR CLAIMS SHE WAS FIRED OVER A RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA POST. THANKS FOR JOINING US AT TEN. I’M GUY RAWLINGS AND I’M CARLA WADE. SHE CLAIMS THAT THE ACTIONS OF HER FORMER EMPLOYERS, THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AND AUBURN UNIVERSITY, VIOLATED HER FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH. IT’S WHY SHE’S NOW SUING BOTH SCHOOLS. WVTM 13 ERIN LLEWELLYN IN STUDIO TONIGHT. WHAT DOES SHE THINK GOT HER FIRED? ERIN. YEAH. CARLA. DOCTOR CANDACE HALE SAYS THAT SHE MADE A POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY THAT CHARLIE KIRK PASSED AND SAID THAT SHE WOULD NOT MOURN HIS DEATH. SHE SAYS THAT SOME PEOPLE FEEL HIS VIEWS ARE CONTROVERSIAL, BUT HIS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS WERE NEVER TAKEN. NOW, SHE SAYS THAT THAT POST COST HER HER JOB AND NOW SHE’S FIGHTING TO GET IT BACK. ANGER MY RIGHT TO SPEAK. WAS VIOLATED. RAGE. I HAVE BEEN FIRED FROM ONE INSTITUTION. LIKELY FACING RESIGNATION FROM ANOTHER INSTITUTION. SADNESS AND DISAPPOINTMENT. OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US ARE ARE GUARANTEED, NO MATTER WHO WE ARE. OR SO DOCTOR CANDACE HALE THOUGHT. THAT IS UNTIL SHE SAYS SHE FOUND OUT SHE WAS FIRED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AND PUT ON LEAVE AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY. CHARLIE KIRK’S VOICE CAN BE HEARD AND THE WHOLE WORLD CAN HEAR THE DISPARAGING THINGS HE HAS TO SAY. THEN THE WORLD SHOULD BE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT AUBURN UNIVERSITY AND WHAT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA ALABAMA DID TO ME. NOW SHE’S FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST BOTH ALABAMA AND AUBURN, CLAIMING HER FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED. IF THIS IS WHAT I HAD TO DO TO GET THEM TO HEAR ME, THEN SO BE IT. HALE SAYS SHE MADE THIS POST ON SEPTEMBER 11TH AFTER SHE FOUND OUT TURNING POINT USA CO-FOUNDER CHARLIE KIRK DIED. I WAS JUST LIKE, OH MY GOD, THIS MAN IS SUCH A BIGOTED, RACIST. I MEAN, ALL THE ISMS THAT YOU COULD THROW AT SOMEONE, HE FIT AND CHECKED EVERY BOX IN HER POST THAT SHE SAYS WAS ONLY POSTED FOR HER FACEBOOK FRIENDS TO SEE. SHE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST AND SAID SHE WOULD NOT WARN THE WICKED. I SAW SO MANY PEOPLE JUST TALKING ABOUT, OH, THIS GOOD MAN HAS NOW PASSED OR HE WAS ASSASSINATED. AND I WAS LIKE, WHAT GOOD MAN? THIS IS NOT A CHRISTIAN MAN. CHRISTIANS DON’T DON’T DO THIS. HALE SAYS SHE GOT A CALL FROM HER SUPERVISOR FIVE DAYS AFTER THE POST WAS MADE, TELLING HER THE PRESIDENT DIDN’T TAKE TO IT. WELL, I DIDN’T SAY I WISHED HE WAS DEAD OR I’M GLAD HE WAS DEAD. I JUST AM NOT GOING TO MOURN SOMEONE WHO VERBALLY AND PUBLICLY DISPARAGED ANY PERSON THAT DIDN’T LOOK LIKE HIM, HALE SAYS. THE DOOR MAY BE CLOSED ON HER CAREER AT ALABAMA, BUT SHE WON’T STOP SPEAKING UP UNTIL EVERYONE’S RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED. MY VOICE IS MY POWER. MY WORDS ARE MY WEAPON. NOW. WE DID REACH OUT TO BOTH THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AND AUBURN UNIVERSITY FOR COMMENT ON HALE’S LAWSUIT, BUT WE HAVEN’T HEARD BACK YET AT THIS TIME. AS SOON AS WE HEAR ANY

Updated: 8:51 PM CDT Oct 19, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Former professor sues Auburn employees over firing tied to post on Charlie Kirk's death

Updated: 8:51 PM CDT Oct 19, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

A former educator at Auburn University and the University of Alabama is suing several school leaders over her firing, which she says occurred due to a statement she made on social media regarding the assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.Candice Hale, formerly a lecturer in Auburn's College of Liberal Arts, argues her comments about Kirk's death were constitutionally protected speech on matters of public concern and that the university's decision to fire her was a violation of her First Amendment rights."Such retaliation cuts to the heart of democratic principles, where open discourse and the free exchange of ideas are essential to the preservation of liberty and justice," the complaint reads.The statement that allegedly led to Hale's firing was posted to Facebook on Sept. 11, the day after Kirk was killed.On Sept. 17, Auburn University released a statement announcing the termination of employees who had made "social media posts that were hurtful, insensitive and completely at odds with Auburn’s values of respect, integrity and responsibility in violation of our Code of Conduct."While Kirk's death was not mentioned in the statement, U.S. Senator and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville attributed the move to comments about the assassination."Thank you, @AuburnU, for taking action and FIRING these sick people who mocked the assassination of Charlie Kirk," Tuberville posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday. "They have NO PLACE in our state’s public education system."That same day, Hale alleges that she was asked to join an online meeting with Scott Forehand, Director of Compliance, Investigations, and Security at Auburn University, and Chris Hardman, a Behavioral Threat Assessment Coordinator.Hale says she was asked several questions regarding her post, including:"How students who were in the University’s Turning Point USA chapter would feel about her comments.""How she would interact with white male students if they identified themselves with Kirk’s views.""If she had access to firearms or had any intent to harm anyone in the Turning Point USA chapter at Auburn."Hale said that, following the meeting, Forehand and Hardman found her not to be a threat to the safety of those on campus.However, two days later, Hale was requested for another meeting, this time with Tami Poe, Senior Manager of Human Resources in the Dean’s Office, and Jason Hicks, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Ahead of the meeting, Hale was told that she was being placed on paid leave and would not be allowed to contact her students. On Sept. 22, Hale alleges she was told by Poe that she could not have legal counsel during the meeting. Hale joined the second online meeting the next day and was told they planned to fire her and offered her a severance agreement.Poe, Hicks, Forehand, Hardman and Auburn President Christopher Roberts are all named in the suit, which seeks both monetary compensation and job reinstatement, along with measures to prevent future retaliation.Hale said she is also pursuing legal action against leadership at the University of Alabama, where she was employed in an adjunct position and allegedly fired for her comments on Kirk's death as well."Both institutions have tried to silence my voice," she said in a Facebook post Thursday. "I reject these efforts. I remain steadfast in defending my right to speak truth to power and to challenge white supremacy, misogyny, and injustice — especially within academic spaces."

A former educator at Auburn University and the University of Alabama is suing several school leaders over her firing, which she says occurred due to a statement she made on social media regarding the

Candice Hale, formerly a lecturer in Auburn's College of Liberal Arts, argues her comments about Kirk's death were constitutionally protected speech on matters of public concern and that the university's decision to fire her was a violation of her First Amendment rights.

"Such retaliation cuts to the heart of democratic principles, where open discourse and the free exchange of ideas are essential to the preservation of liberty and justice," the complaint reads.

The statement that allegedly led to Hale's firing was posted to Facebook on Sept. 11, the day after Kirk was killed.

Candice Hale

On Sept. 17, Auburn University who had made "social media posts that were hurtful, insensitive and completely at odds with Auburn’s values of respect, integrity and responsibility in violation of our Code of Conduct."

While Kirk's death was not mentioned in the statement, U.S. Senator and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville attributed the move to comments about the assassination.

"Thank you, , for taking action and FIRING these sick people who mocked the assassination of Charlie Kirk," Tuberville posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday. "They have NO PLACE in our state’s public education system."

That same day, Hale alleges that she was asked to join an online meeting with Scott Forehand, Director of Compliance, Investigations, and Security at Auburn University, and Chris Hardman, a Behavioral Threat Assessment Coordinator.

Hale says she was asked several questions regarding her post, including:

"How students who were in the University’s Turning Point USA chapter would feel about her comments."
"How she would interact with white male students if they identified themselves with Kirk’s views."
"If she had access to firearms or had any intent to harm anyone in the Turning Point USA chapter at Auburn."

Hale said that, following the meeting, Forehand and Hardman found her not to be a threat to the safety of those on campus.

However, two days later, Hale was requested for another meeting, this time with Tami Poe, Senior Manager of Human Resources in the Dean’s Office, and Jason Hicks, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Ahead of the meeting, Hale was told that she was being placed on paid leave and would not be allowed to contact her students.

On Sept. 22, Hale alleges she was told by Poe that she could not have legal counsel during the meeting. Hale joined the second online meeting the next day and was told they planned to fire her and offered her a severance agreement.

Poe, Hicks, Forehand, Hardman and Auburn President Christopher Roberts are all named in the suit, which seeks both monetary compensation and job reinstatement, along with measures to prevent future retaliation.

Hale said she is also pursuing legal action against leadership at the University of Alabama, where she was employed in an adjunct position and allegedly fired for her comments on Kirk's death as well.

"Both institutions have tried to silence my voice," she said in a . "I reject these efforts. I remain steadfast in defending my right to speak truth to power and to challenge white supremacy, misogyny, and injustice — especially within academic spaces."

��vlog