Former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow said Thursday that regents fired him because they were uncomfortable with him and his wife producing and appearing in pornographic videos.

The regents voted unanimously during a hastily convened closed meeting Wednesday evening to fire Gow.

After the vote, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman and Regents President Karen Walsh issued statements saying the regents had learned of specific conduct by Gow that subjected the university to “significant reputational harm.” Rothman called Gow’s actions “abhorrent” and Walsh said she was “disgusted.” But neither of them offered any details of the allegations.

  • qooqie@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Weird? Eh. I don’t think this sort of thing should be punished between consenting adults. Let’s move forward as a society

    • bean@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Right? Was it not always scandalous if they were unwed? But… they are… what the hell do you think a couple does behind closed doors?

  • stolid_agnostic
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    1 year ago

    These sorts of moves don’t tend to happen quickly. The board may be a bunch of pearl clutchers but there may also be more to this story.

    In any case, reputational damage is fully subjective and they may have to prove that harm occurred or pay out a huge settlement.

  • steal_your_face
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    1 year ago

    Link? 👀

    Edit search “sexy happy couple” on xhamster 😳

      • berkeleyblue@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Waitwaitwait… They have a YouTube Channel where they COOK with Porn actirs? The headline read like they did porn themselves (which I wouldn’t have an issue with either). Are you kidding me?

        It’s YT, and I‘m sure they wanna monetize it so it can’t be that graphic anyway, right?

        • TheTango@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          No, they have actual pornographic videos of themselves having sex with others. From the NYT: In an interview on Thursday, Mr. Gow and Ms. Wilson said that they believe they were fired over the videos, which included sex scenes together and with others under the username Sexy Happy Couple.

          And…

          Mr. Gow, 63, said he and his wife, 56, have made videos together for years but had decided recently to make them publicly available on porn websites and had been pleased by the response. They said they never mentioned the university or their jobs in the videos, several of which have racked up hundreds of thousands of views. The couple also has made a series of videos in which they cook meals with porn actors and then have sex.

        • StorminNorman@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I just skimmed through one of their videos. Looks like it was made with a budget of 50c, and some sort of direction wouldn’t hurt, but it seems perfectly innocent. Just an interview as they make some food (vegan, for what that’s worth). Didn’t even notice any swearing. Sure, they talk sex, but not in graphic detail or anything. Seems to just be the usual sex positive stuff you see out there. This shouldn’t be a fireable offence anywhere.

        • Goferking0@ttrpg.network
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          1 year ago

          Sounds just like they’re too sex positive for the Regents.

          But also wouldn’t be surprised if they did porn too, not that it should get them fired

  • tacosanonymous@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    That’s dumb. It’s 2023 and people need to:

    A. Mind their own business B. Stop worrying about what consenting people do