UPDATE: University of Tennessee agrees to settle lawsuit with professor fired over Charlie Kirk comments

In the past six months, two universities have spent more than $2 million to settle lawsuits with former professors who were either suspended or terminated because of comments made online following the death of political commentator Charlie Kirk.

The latest is the University of Tennessee agreeing to pay former assistant professor Tamar Shirinian a $1.9 million settlement after she sued UT for violating her First Amendment rights when they fired her March. Part of the agreement includes Shirinian concluding her efforts to be reinstated.

In December, Austin Peay State University issued a public apology to acting and directing professor Darren Michael, allowed him to return to his job and paid him a $500,000 settlement to drop his lawsuit over constitutional violations.

The deal must now be approved by the Tennessee Board of Trustees, Governor Bill Lee, and Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.