Fired university chancellor claims free speech after he's caught filming porn with wife and others, posting videos online

A university chancellor in Wisconsin recently lost his prestigious position for unidentified "specific conduct" that could reflect badly on his institution, and many now believe his termination relates to online pornographic videos featuring the chancellor, his wife, and others.

For more than 15 years, Dr. Joe Gow, 63, had been the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. According to his bio on the school's website, he first got the chancellor job in 2007 after working in administrative positions at various other universities, including a stint as provost and interim president of Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, a private Christian school.

But on Wednesday, the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously to fire Gow after members learned Gow had engaged in what Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman described as "abhorrent" conduct that likely "subjected the university to significant reputational harm."

UW System Regent President Karen Walsh expressed similar "disgust" with Gow's behavior. "We are alarmed, and disgusted, by his actions, which were wholly and undeniably inconsistent with his role as chancellor," she said.

As of now, Gow still retains tenure at the school, so he will be placed on paid administrative leave. However, President Rothman said he had asked interim Chancellor Betsy Morgan to reconsider "Dr. Gow’s status as a tenured faculty member."

If the details shared in recent reports are accurate, rescinding Gow's tenure is likely appropriate. The New York Post has reported that Gow and his wife, Carmen Wilson — who met Gow when she chaired the search committee that hired him — have filmed pornographic videos together and posted them online under the name "Sexy Happy Couple."

Some of these videos feature other "well-known porn stars," the Post claimed, and have been posted to infamous smut sites such as OnlyFans and Pornhub.

One particular video reportedly features Nina Hartley, whom the Post described as an "adult film legend." In 2018, Gow embroiled himself in controversy when he used university funds to pay Hartley $5,000 to speak about porn on campus. He later apologized and offered to reimburse the university out of his own pocket.

After learning about his termination as chancellor, Gow did not deny engaging in porn and sharing it online. In fact, he claimed that doing so was free speech protected by the First Amendment, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said.

He also suggested he hadn't done anything wrong since he never mentioned his daytime job on the videos. "There’s nothing said about the University of Wisconsin," he said, "there’s nothing said about the chancellor. So someone else would have to make those associations.

He then seemingly dared his colleagues and others to pass judgment on him: "And then someone would have to say those are problematic."

Gow and Wilson, who married in 2014, have published a wealth of material, including two books, about their double life as amateur porn stars.

"We think our sex is beautiful and have no qualms at all about other people watching us make love. But our establishment colleagues likely would be shocked to watch us complete the full carnal process – particularly with professional porn stars – and we’re fairly certain we’d be shunned in our community. Our careers likely would be ruined," they wrote under pseudonyms in their 2015 book, "Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship."

Within the last few weeks, they have even begun a risqué cooking channel on YouTube called "Sexy Healthy Cooking." According to the Post and the Journal Sentinel, recognizable porn actors appear in videos on the channel as well. Blaze News did not visit the channel to confirm that reporting.

Back in August, Gow announced that he intended to retire as chancellor at the end of the 2023-24 school year and return to a faculty position. He has a Ph.D. in speech communication.

He is also a vegan, an avid runner, and an "LGBTQ+ friendly face" who has worked to "promote highly inclusive and diverse campus communities," according to his online bio. Carmen Wilson has no profile on the school's website, but as of early Thursday afternoon, she is still listed as an "Associate of the Chancellor" and a member of the "Chancellor's Office."

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