In a surprise move today, Tom Spritzler brokered a deal for the couple to teach a course on polygamy at Brigham Young University. Students will have an opportunity to take a deep dive into the subject at optional weekend retreats which will be featured on OnlyFans.
Fired University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor Loses Tenured Teaching Post Over Porn Videos
Joe Gow, who appeared in OnlyFans videos with his wife, says he will sue the school
By Joseph De Avila, WSJ
Sept. 27, 2024 4:02 pm ET
Joe Gow and his wife, Carmen Wilson, speaking to reporters last week in Madison, Wis. Photo: Scott Bauer/Associated Press
The Universities of Wisconsin System Board of Regents fired a tenured professor who appeared in pornographic videos with his wife, after earlier removing him as chancellor.
Joe Gow lost his teaching position Friday at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. In December, the university system’s board of regents dismissed Gow as the school’s chancellor after the videos he created with his wife came to light, but he had remained on the faculty as a tenured professor of communication studies. He was chancellor of UW-La Crosse from 2007 to 2023.
Gow called his dismissal an attack on free speech and academic freedom and said he plans to sue the university.
“We look forward to defending our rights in a court of law, before an impartial judge or jury,” Gow said in a statement. “We seek not only to protect our own rights, but to protect free speech and expression for all Americans.”
The Universities of Wisconsin System didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, one of 13 universities in the UW System, has more than 10,400 students.
Gow and his wife posted videos of themselves cooking vegan recipes with adult-film industry stars on their YouTube account, which is still active. They also told followers to go to LoyalFans and OnlyFans sites for more content. Gow told university officials that he and his wife had been making sexually explicit videos for about 10 years, according to a university report.
The couple also wrote two books under pen names titled “Married with Benefits: Our Real-life Adult Industry Adventures” and “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship.”
“Because Carmen and I wrote and produced our books and videos on our own time—with no reference whatsoever to the UW System—they are protected by both the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the free-speech rights outlined in the Wisconsin State Constitution,” Gow said.
University administrators previously said Gow’s conduct could harm the Universities of Wisconsin System’s reputation. They also said his actions were inconsistent with his role as chancellor.
University administrators had also reprimanded Gow in 2018 “for exercising poor judgment” after he invited an adult-film actress to speak on campus. Gow was denied a pay raise as a result of the incident.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a group that advocates for free speech on college campuses, called Gow’s dismissal a blow for academic freedom and faculty free-speech rights. The group is advising Gow on his case.
“Public universities cannot sacrifice the First Amendment to protect their reputations,” said Zach Greenberg, legal defense counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. “We’re disappointed UW caved to donors and politicians by throwing a tenured professor under the bus.”
Write to Joseph De Avila at joseph.deavila@wsj.com
Comments