Former UCLA DEI Head Claims Firing Over Social Media Posts

The ex-director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at UCLA recently announced his termination, asserting it was due to his lack of sorrow over conservative figure Charlie Kirk’s death. This incident occurred following a series of contentious social media remarks made by Jonathan Perkins.

On the social media platform Blue Sky, Perkins stated, “UCLA just fired me because I wasn’t sad about Charlie Kirk’s death, which is clearly a violation of my First Amendment rights.”

In light of his job loss, Perkins has turned to a GoFundMe to support living costs. The platform indicated intentions to file a lawsuit against UCLA, claiming violations of free speech rights, while calling for contributions to combat racism and champion free expression.

“My puppy, two cats, and I could use your support,” Perkins wrote, highlighting his situation alongside a few hashtags, like #Project2025 and #DEI.

Student Videos Celebrate Kirk’s Assassination

Perkins held the position of director for race and equity. In follow-up posts, he shared that he was let go due to comments tied to a post concerning not mourning Kirk’s death.

Following Kirk’s assassination on September 10 while at a Turning Point USA event in Utah, Perkins made seemingly provocative statements in a now-removed post, insinuating that Kirk’s fate was deserved.

He remarked, “Charlie Kirk frequently spoke about America’s annual 45,000 gun deaths being a necessary price for his cherished Second Amendment.” He added, “I’m always happy when a bigot dies,” and further explained that it’s permissible to feel relief when someone hostile to you passes away, regardless of circumstances.

UCLA acted swiftly, placing Perkins on administrative leave soon after the controversy erupted. The university acknowledged the situation, stating it promotes freedom of expression, yet condemns any form of violence, including celebrations of such events.

In communication with Fox News Digital, a UCLA representative noted that the university avoids commenting on individual employment cases. They reiterated that employees receive a chance to respond to any resignation notices before decisions are made.

When contacted for comments, Perkins didn’t reply. However, in a discussion with UCLA’s Daily Bruin, he defended his remarks and reiterated that he wasn’t celebrating any death, asserting that it’s acceptable “not to be sad when a horrible, horrible bigot dies.”