Defiant Ex-University Chancellor Slams Firing Over Online Porn: ‘I Was Given No Due Process’

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse chancellor who was fired for posting adult-oriented videos online with his wife told CNN on Friday he did nothing wrong, and said his actions are protected by his First Amendment Right to free expression.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Dr. Joe Gow and his wife Carmen Wilson posted videos to OnlyFans, PornHub, and XHamster, and that they often featured adult film actors on their YouTube cooking channel. Online, Gow and his wife went by @SexyHappyCouple, and Gow said they never made any reference in their videos to the university.

The couple had also written two sex-positive books under pseudonyms, “because we didn’t want to draw any attention to the university or my role there,” Gow said.

“The regents had a meeting and they informed me after the meeting that I was no longer chancellor, and I was given no due process. They never said what policy I violated. Also, there was no hearing where I could actually do as I’m doing with you now: talk about the issues. And I think really, at the end of the day, it’s a question of, our material is covered by the First Amendment. It’s nothing illegal. We’re not inciting anybody to violence, or anything like that. I think it says something about how the board of regents says they want freedom of expression and free speech, but at the end of the day, they are not going to let me do that.”

CNN’s Boris Sanchez asked if Gow was made to sign a code of ethics when he became chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

“When I was appointed chancellor, I did sign an agreement, but it didn’t say anything about a code of conduct or morality or anything like that. It did say ‘set a good example.’ And I think what I’m doing with my wife is setting a good example regarding freedom of expression and free speech,” Gow said.

Breanna Keilar asked if Gow viewed his content as a “public service” that should be protected.

“Well, I would say we would not be having this conversation if it wasn’t a public concern. So, I think this is something that is a big part of human life and something that there are a lot of taboos around, and people are reluctant to talk about it. And I think the best part, this whole episode, is that we are getting people to talk a little more freely.”

Watch the clip above via CNN.