Trending Now - Biologist Terminated for Charlie Kirk Post Secures $485K Payout
WHO:
The Guardian - Biologist Brittney Brown, Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, attorney Carrie McNamara, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, habitat and species conservation director Melissa Tucker.
ABC News - Biologist Brittney Brown, Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attorney Carrie McNamara, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, habitat and species conservation director Melissa Tucker.
WHAT:
The Guardian - Brittney Brown was fired by the FWC for reposting a meme on Instagram that criticized Charlie Kirk after his death.
The Guardian - Brown signed a $485,000 settlement agreement with the FWC that includes backpay, damages, and attorney costs.
ABC News - Brown was among many workers who lost their jobs due to comments about Kirk's assassination, with lawsuits pending over those firings.
The Guardian - Brown's former supervisor claimed her post generated hundreds of complaints, but it was later revealed that only about 50 complaints were received.
ABC News - Tennessee officials agreed to pay $835,000 to Larry Bushart, a retired police officer jailed for 37 days over a Facebook post joking about Kirk's assassination.
WHERE:
The Guardian - Florida, specifically the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
ABC News - Tennessee, where Larry Bushart was jailed.
WHEN:
The Guardian - Brittney Brown was fired in September.
The Guardian - Kirk was assassinated on September 10.
ABC News - Brown signed the settlement agreement on a Thursday.
The Guardian - Larry Bushart was jailed for 37 days.
WHY:
The Guardian - Brown claimed she struggled to find work because the FWC is the regulatory body for her research specialization in bird conservation.
ABC News - Kirk's supporters sought to identify and punish individuals who made light of his death.
HOW:
The Guardian - Brown's termination was reported by the conservative social media account Libs of TikTok shortly after it occurred.
ABC News - Brown's lawsuit claimed that her post led to her firing due to the backlash from Kirk's supporters.
(UPDATED May 22, 2026 17:38 UTC)
Biologist Brittney Brown was fired by Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after reposting a meme on Instagram that criticized Charlie Kirk following his assassination on September 10. She has since signed a $485,000 settlement agreement with the FWC, which includes backpay, damages, and attorney costs, while also facing challenges in finding work in her field due to the backlash from Kirk's supporters. In Tennessee, officials have agreed to pay $835,000 to retired police officer Larry Bushart, who was jailed for 37 days over a Facebook post joking about Kirk's death.