This post was updated Jan. 14 at 9:31 a.m.

An official in UCLA’s office of equity, diversity and inclusion said UCLA fired him Monday over social media posts in which he expressed satisfaction about the murder of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk. 

UCLA put Johnathan Perkins, the EDI office’s former director of race and equity, on investigatory leave in September after he posted comments in which he appeared to celebrate Kirk’s death on the social media platform Bluesky. Kirk was shot dead Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University on the first stop of his The American Comeback Tour, in which he debated college students across the country.

Kirk, whose Christian beliefs were central to his political opinions, publicly opposed LGBTQ+ rights and encouraged women to forgo their careers to get married and have children. He also frequently spoke about race relations in America, condemning diversity programs and calling the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – which granted people of color equal rights – a “huge mistake.” 

[Related: UCLA EDI official placed on leave following posts celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death]

Perkins said in an interview that he did not “celebrate” Kirk’s death, but added that he believes, “It’s okay to not be sad when someone who’s a horrible, horrible bigot, dies.” 

“It is OKAY to be happy when someone who hated you and called for your people’s death dies—even if they are murdered,” Perkins appeared to say in a social media post. 

A UCLA spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the university does not comment on personnel matters. Employees who have received an intent to terminate are provided an opportunity to respond before action is taken, the spokesperson added.

Ralina Joseph, the vice provost of inclusive excellence, appeared to say in a Monday notice of intent to terminate employment sent to Perkins that he engaged in “serious misconduct” and violated several University policies related to workplace violence and ethical standards. The Daily Bruin could not confirm the authenticity of the termination notice.

“If Hell is real, Charlie Kirk is certainly in it now,” Perkins appeared to say in another Bluesky post. 

Joseph appeared to add in the notice that UCLA’s Campus Human Resources Employee and Labor Relations unit issued an investigation report Jan. 6, which made “substantiated findings” that Perkins’ social media activity impacted workplace safety, leadership responsibilities and office operations. 

“Given the nature of your role as a Director of Race and Equity, the University has determined that this conduct significantly undermined trust in your leadership and adversely affected the Office’s effectiveness and credibility,” she appeared to say in the letter. 

Perkins also appeared to wish death on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas – a member of the court’s conservative wing – in a March 2022 tweet, according to ABC News 4. Perkins appeared to refer to Thomas as “Uncle Thomas” in another tweet, which is meant to describe a Black person who is accepting of white supremacy.

Anna Spain Bradley, who was then UCLA’s vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion, told Fox News that Perkins’ tweet did not “reflect my or UCLA EDI’s views.”

“No one wants to openly admit [we all] hope Clarence Thomas dies,” he appeared to say in a tweet. “Whatever you need to tell yourselves. This whole rule we’re not to wish ill on people is silly.”

Emory University fired a non-clinical faculty member Sept. 18 over Facebook posts related to Kirk – including one in which she replied to a friend’s post saying “Good riddance” after his murder – according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

Austin Peay State University also removed a faculty member in September after he shared a screenshot of a 2023 Newsweek article with a headline reading, “Charlie Kirk Says Gun Deaths ‘Unfortunately’ Worth it to Keep 2nd Amendment” on social media, according to Inside Higher Ed. The university, however, acknowledged in January that it did not follow proper termination procedures and agreed to pay the associate professor $500,000 and reinstate him as part of a settlement.

Perkins said he is prepared to file a lawsuit against UCLA, alleging that the university unfairly terminated his employment and violated his First Amendment rights. He is in the preliminary stages of sharing information with his attorneys, he added, and said he hopes that the university admits to wrongdoing.  

Perkins created a GoFundMe to support himself amid a loss of income and to cover the costs of the lawsuit, according to the fundraiser website. He added that his termination of employment has forced him to relocate to Philadelphia, where his family lives. 

“UCLA terminating my employment is upending my entire life – personal and professional,” he said. “Without this role, I am being forced to upend my living situation, and of course, search for new employment.”