A professor from the University of Toronto has been placed on leave following a controversial online comment regarding the shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Ruth Marshall, who teaches religious studies and political science, made the remark on her private social media account, stating that “shooting is honestly too good for so many of you fascist c–ts.”
The tweet was posted shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death on social media. The comment received backlash from various online users, including Ontario’s Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence, and Security, Nolan Quinn, who criticized the professor’s violent language and urged the university to take action.
In response to the incident, the University of Toronto confirmed that the faculty member is on leave and not present on campus. A university spokesperson stated that the matter is under investigation, with no further comments provided at this time.
Despite attempts to reach out to Marshall, she has not responded, and her faculty pages on the university’s website are inaccessible. An employment lawyer highlighted that the professor could face termination based on university policies and potential reputational harm caused.
Samantha Lucifora, a senior partner at Monkhouse Law Employment Lawyers, emphasized the importance of employees safeguarding themselves on social media by keeping accounts private and adhering to workplace social media policies. Lucifora advised employees to refrain from using explicit language or making derogatory comments to maintain professionalism online.
