In the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump last week, numerous individuals across the United States are facing severe repercussions for mocking the incident online. Among those who have lost their jobs are school employees, a restaurant worker, a fire chief, and a political aide.
University instructor suspended
John James, an instructor at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, faced immediate suspension following an “offensive and unacceptable social media post.” James was no longer affiliated with the university, although it remains unclear whether he was formally fired. His controversial post read: “If you’re gonna shoot, man, don’t miss.”
Restaurant worker terminated
In a similar incident, Cooper Graves, an employee at Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, was terminated after violating the restaurant’s social media policy. Graves had commented “so close” in response to the failed assassination attempt on Trump. The restaurant swiftly announced on Facebook, “This individual has been immediately suspended pending a full HR investigation. This employee made these statements of his own volition and does not reflect or represent the views of our company.”
Additional job losses
The wave of job terminations also affected a middle school behavior facilitator and a fire chief in Pennsylvania, both of whom made disparaging posts regarding the assassination attempt.
Expert opinion on digital conduct
Karen North, a professor of digital social media at the University of Southern California and a psychologist, emphasized the importance of responsible online behavior. Speaking to USA Today, she stated, “There’s always an audience for people misbehaving.” North warned against making public statements wishing harm on others, labeling such actions as deeply inappropriate.
“Social media has become the town square,” North explained, “where people are put in the stocks and held out there to be humiliated because of their actions.”
This series of job losses underscores the significant impact of social media conduct on professional life, highlighting the need for individuals to exercise caution and discretion in their public statements.