Court decides Ohio State probably breached TikToker’s free speech rights regarding anti-Israel views.

Ohio State University Student’s Expulsion Record Overturned

A federal judge has mandated that Ohio State University remove a statement from a former student’s academic record indicating he was “involuntarily expelled.” This expulsion followed his posting of an anti-Israel video on social media, which university officials claimed incited violence.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargas Jr. granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit initiated by 19-year-old Guy Christensen, a TikTok creator represented by the ACLU of Ohio. The judge noted that Christensen likely has a strong case asserting that his First and 14th Amendment rights were violated.

The ACLU filed the lawsuit in September 2025 after the university swiftly revoked Christensen’s registration without holding a public hearing, following the backlash over a video related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. This disciplinary action stemmed from two videos he shared on social media in May 2025, after he had left for summer break.

In one video from May 22, Christensen initially condemned the killings of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C. but later retracted that condemnation, instead referring to the gunman as a “resistance fighter.” He claimed that the incident was being used to incite further violence against the protest movement.

His remarks included direct criticism of Congressman Ritchie Torres (D.Y.) for his stance on Israel’s actions, suggesting that Torres’s words would “haunt” him, even going so far as to say that he hoped Torres faced consequences akin to the Nuremberg Trials.

Torres has perceived this as a threat and sought help from U.S. Capitol Police, intensifying the scrutiny surrounding Christensen’s posts.

After facing significant backlash, Christensen posted a video asserting that he did not advocate for violence or incite threats against others. The university had initially suspended him on May 25, 2025, citing concerns about potential harm due to his presence on campus. Subsequently, he was expelled on May 30 under different university policies related to his social media presence.

The ACLU stated that Christensen had completed his freshman year with good academic standing prior to this fallout. They noted the university’s pressure to expel him intensified, partly due to external influences, including comments from the Trump administration.

Judge Sargas criticized the university’s approach, emphasizing that the First Amendment protects even controversial speech. He found no evidence linking Christensen’s posts to any violence or illegal actions, asserting that the university violated due process by not allowing a proper disciplinary process before the expulsion.

As part of the ongoing proceedings, Sargas ordered Ohio State University to erase references to Christensen’s “involuntary withdrawal” from his academic records within ten days, with Christensen required to post $100 bail.

Christensen expressed gratitude to his supporters on social media, declaring that this marked a significant victory for free speech, and that he felt vindicated after being harshly criticized for his viewpoints.