Emory University – Firing of Anna Kenney – Charlie Kirk

Summary

In September 2025, Emory University terminated Dr. Anna Kenney, an associate professor in its School of Medicine, following controversial remarks she made on social media about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kenney was officially dismissed on September 18. In a Facebook post, she described Kirk as a “disgusting individual,” adding “good riddance” and “karma’s a bitch.” The post quickly circulated online, drawing widespread attention and criticism from students, faculty, and national commentators. Calls for her dismissal came from conservative public figures and media outlets, and U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden reportedly threatened to freeze Emory’s federal contracts if the university did not act.

Soon after Kenney’s termination, Emory’s University Senate Committee for Open Expression began a preliminary investigation. On September 23, the committee issued a report concluding that the firing likely violated the university’s recently revised Open Expression Policy, approved in March 2025 to strengthen free speech protections across the university. The committee found that Kenney’s Facebook post, while offensive to many, was protected under the policy, which prohibits punishment based solely on the viewpoint expressed. The committee noted that the post was made off campus and outside the scope of her professional duties, factors that the policy specifically safeguards. In evaluating the matter, the committee also considered the impact of public and political pressure on the administration’s decision and highlighted the potential chilling effect such terminations could have on faculty speech more broadly.

The dismissal occurred amid a wave of similar controversies on campuses nationwide involving faculty and staff comments about Kirk’s killing