Shirinian’s attorney, Robb Bigelow, confirmed that both sides had reached an agreement after months of litigation.
“My client is pleased that the parties reached a resolution,” Shirinian’s attorney, Robb Bigelow, said.
“We believe the resolution reflects the seriousness of the issues while allowing everyone to move forward.”
Because the University of Tennessee operates as a public institution, the settlement will ultimately be funded with taxpayer dollars. That means Tennessee residents—not a private entity—will cover the $1.9 million payout, a detail that is likely to draw additional scrutiny given the circumstances surrounding the case.
The controversy erupted in September 2025 following the assassination of Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University. As tributes poured in from supporters across the country, Shirinian took to social media and posted remarks that quickly generated widespread backlash.
Among the statements that sparked outrage was her declaration:
“The world is better off without him in it,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
She continued by attacking those mourning Kirk’s death, writing:
“Even those who are claiming to be sad for his wife and kids… [they] are better off living without a disgusting psychopath like him.”
Shirinian also directed vulgar comments toward Kirk’s widow, posting:
“His wife, well she’s a sick fuck for marrying him so I don’t [sic] care about his feelings.”
Images of the Facebook post rapidly circulated online, fueling criticism from across the political spectrum. The comments prompted the University of Tennessee to open a formal investigation into whether Shirinian’s conduct violated university policies and standards expected of faculty members.
Following that review, university officials decided to terminate her employment. The firing became another flashpoint in the broader national debate over free speech, academic freedom, and whether public university employees can face disciplinary action over controversial political speech made on personal social media accounts.
Rather than accept the university’s decision, Shirinian filed a lawsuit in federal court in October 2025. She argued that the university violated her constitutional rights by dismissing her over comments she claimed were protected speech. Although the lawsuit was filed months earlier, University of Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman officially finalized her termination in February 2026.
Court filings now indicate that both parties are completing the remaining paperwork necessary to finalize the settlement agreement. Once approved by the state’s top officials, the case will officially come to an end.
The sizeable payout is expected to generate continued debate over the legal and financial consequences facing publicly funded universities when employment disputes evolve into constitutional challenges. It also raises renewed questions about the balance between protecting free expression and holding public employees accountable for statements that provoke widespread public condemnation.
With the university choosing to settle rather than continue a potentially lengthy legal battle, the case closes one chapter in a controversy that drew national attention—but it is unlikely to end the broader conversation surrounding political speech, taxpayer-funded settlements, and the responsibilities of faculty members at public institutions.
