The University of Mississippi has fired one of its staffers for an insensitive post she shared following the death of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Lauren Stokes, who was the executive assistant for the vice chancellor at Ole Miss and a local restaurant owner, became the subject of widespread scrutiny on social media for content she parroted after Kirk was killed at a speaking event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. The post in question referred to Kirk as a “reimagined” Ku Klux Klan member, whose politics were responsible for school shootings, mass killings via gunfire, anti-abortion laws, and acts of brutality committed against racial minorities.
“For decades, yt (sic) supremacist and reimagined Klan members like Kirk have wreaked havoc on our communities, condemning children and the populace at large to mass death for the sake of keeping their automatic guns. They have willingly advocated to condemn children and adult survivors of [sexual assault] to forced pregnancy and childbirth,” a portion of the post reads.
“They have smiled while stating the reasons people who can birth children shouldn’t be allowed life-saving medical care when miscarrying,” the post continued. “They have incited and clapped for the brutalizing of Black and Brown bodies. So no, I have no prayers to offer Kirk or respectable statements against violence.”
The sentiments Stokes echoed were met with resistance, along with calls for her to lose her job at the university and for the restaurant she cofounded, Tarasque Cucina, to be boycotted. Currently, the restaurant’s rating on Google reviews sits at 2.8 stars — down around two stars before Stokes shared the controversial post. Negative reviews have also been shared en masse within the past 24 hours.
On Thursday, Ole Miss Chancellor Glenn Boyce announced that Stokes had been terminated from her position within the university. After condemning the views the former employee shared on social media, Boyce noted that university officials have a responsibility to take seriously their commitment to upholding a civil and respectful campus environment.
“Yesterday, a University of Mississippi staff member re-shared hurtful, insensitive comments on social media regarding the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk,” Boyce wrote. “These comments run completely counter to our institutional values of civility, fairness, and respecting the dignity of each person. We condemn these actions, and this staff member is no longer employed by the university.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kirk family, as well as members of our campus community who are affected by this senseless act of violence. I encourage our campus community to support one another, and don’t hesitate to use the support services and resources available to you.”
Statement from Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce regarding hurtful, insensitive comments re-shared by staff member. pic.twitter.com/IIGYGQ2xeK
— Ole Miss (@OleMiss) September 11, 2025
At this time, Tarasque Cucina’s official Facebook page has been limited, only allowing a select number of people to view its posts. The restaurant has not publicly announced any changes to its operations.
