ORLANDO, Fla. — A former Florida wildlife biologist who was fired after reposting a social media meme about conservative activist Charlie Kirk has received a $485,000 settlement from the state following a lawsuit alleging violations of her constitutional rights.
Brittney Brown, a former employee of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, was terminated after sharing an Instagram repost that critics interpreted as mocking Kirk following his assassination at a Utah campus event.
According to reports and court documents, the repost stated that Kirk “wouldn’t care about children being shot in their classrooms,” referencing national debates surrounding school shootings and gun policy. The post quickly drew backlash online after the conservative social media account “Libs of TikTok” publicly identified Brown and tagged her employer. Brown was fired from her position the following day.
Brown later filed a lawsuit arguing that her firing violated her First Amendment rights because the repost was made on her personal social media account and was unrelated to her official duties as a biologist.
The case drew national attention amid growing debates over free speech, public employees’ online activity, and political pressure campaigns targeting workers over social media posts.
Under the settlement agreement, Brown will receive approximately $485,000 covering damages, back pay, and attorney fees. As part of the agreement, Brown will not seek future employment with the agency.
The settlement does not include an admission of wrongdoing by the state.
The case has become one of the most closely watched recent disputes involving public employees, political speech, and social media accountability in Florida.
