The call for Franklin High School science teacher Emily Orbison to be fired for posting a “hateful screed” justifying the assassination of Charlie Kirk to social media on Saturday gained momentum, with U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), and State Representative Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) calling for the public school employee to be fired.
Orbison’s post about Kirk was first reported by The Federalist, which revealed the educator described the assassination as “rational” and “prudent.” She mockingly wrote, “Guess there wasn’t a good guy with a gun there. Shame.”
Reached for comment by The Federalist, Orbison reportedly instructed the outlet, “You do not have permission to share a post from my private instagram account.”
Reeves, who is currently seeking the Republican Party nomination to represent Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, was the first of the lawmakers to call for Orbison’s employment to be terminated in a post to the social media platform X.
“There’s no place in our schools for radical leftist teachers who celebrate murder,” wrote Reeves. “We must have zero tolerance for those who glorify violence—especially when entrusted with our kids.”
He additionally confirmed he expressed his position to the Williamson County Schools Board of Education.
There’s no place in our schools for radical leftist teachers who celebrate murder.
We must have zero tolerance for those who glorify violence—especially when entrusted with our kids.
I’ve made this clear to members of the @WCSedu Board. I won’t budge. https://t.co/5Mcqa8qV1l
— Lee Reeves (@LeeReevesTN) September 13, 2025
Johnson joined the call for Orbison to be fired through his own post about an hour later.
“A woman lost her husband and two young children will grow up without their dad as result of this heinous act. This person says we shouldn’t mourn his death? Well millions of us ARE mourning,” wrote Johnson. “This person should be fired.”
Despicable.
A woman lost her husband and two young children will grow up without their dad as result of this heinous act.
This person says we shouldn’t mourn his death?
Well millions of us ARE mourning.
This person should be fired.
https://t.co/JOcowP4fwp— Jack Johnson (@SenJohnson) September 13, 2025
Blackburn issued her own call for Orbison to be fired minutes later.
“Absolutely vile,” she wrote. “This person advocating for unthinkable violence should have no role in educating young people. Fire her immediately.”
Absolutely vile. This person advocating for unthinkable violence should have no role in educating young people. Fire her immediately. https://t.co/rxBI8i6vys
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) September 13, 2025
Blackburn’s call for Orbison to be fired comes after a similar demand from the senator preceded the dismissal of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Assistant Dean Laura Sosh-Lightsy, who claimed “Charlie smoke his fate into existence.”
MTSU has since stated, “The comments by this employee, who worked in a position of trust directly with students, were inconsistent with our values and have undermined the university’s credibility and reputation with our students, faculty, staff and the community at large,” and announced, “This employee has been fired effective immediately.”
Kirk was assassinated last Wednesday while holding an event at Utah Valley University. His accused killer, Tyler Robinson, reportedly engraved antifascist and sexually suggestive statements on the rifle cartridges recovered by federal authorities.
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Emily Orbison” by Emily Orbison and “Franklin High School” by Franklin High School.
What is conservative Williamson County becoming???
Emily Orbison, a science teacher at Franklin High School, has filed a federal lawsuit after being suspended for a controversial social media post about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, which drew calls for her termination from several Tennessee lawmakers.
Now, interview every single Williamson County School Board member, ask them
on record if they condone this behavior with their employees. Publish results, list names.
she’ll be suspended, but not fired, the suspension, no doubt with pay, will last till people quit paying as much attention
Charlie Kirk defended free speech even if he didn’t agree with it. He never told anyone they couldn’t talk, he wanted them to prove him wrong and they couldn’t. It goes against what Charlie did for y’all to stop anyone’s speech even this vile comment and a multitude of others. I am in no way taking up for her, just saying Charlie wouldn’t do what they are doing