A California university lecturer was called out after commenting Nick Shirley and “Kirkiversary” that some people viewed as a reference to violence.
Matthew Goldman, listed as a composition lecturer at the University of California, Irvine, and also having taught at Chapman University, reportedly left the controversial comment under a post announcing that Nick Shirley would be speaking at Harvard University. “Someone can do the funniest thing just before the Kirkiversary,” Goldman allegedly wrote.
The “Kirkiversary” reference appeared to point to the anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Kirk was killed on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University. Since Shirley’s Harvard appearance was scheduled just one day before the anniversary, some viewers interpreted Goldman’s wording as suggesting it would be “funny” if something similar happened to Shirley. However, that reflects how viewers interpreted the comment and does not establish Goldman’s intent.
As viewers interpreted the lecturer’s comment as a possible call for violence against Shirley, he began facing backlash online. The X account @libsoftiktok claimed that he had made his social media accounts private. As people looked into his online presence, another controversial comment attributed to Goldman also began circulating. In the alleged comment, he wrote, “lmao abolish ICE. only good ICE agent is a dead one.”
What Happened Next
After the lecturer’s comment gained widespread attention online, people called for him to face consequences. The X accounts of both the University of California, Irvine and Chapman University were reportedly flooded with comments urging the schools to take action. As of publication, neither university appears to have publicly responded to the controversy.
However, Goldman’s biography page on the UC Irvine School of Humanities website appears to have been removed following the backlash. His social media accounts were also reportedly made private after the comments began circulating online. It is unclear whether the removal of his university biography is related to the controversy.
X account @YARDREPORT also shared the alleged comment along with other controversial posts and comments attributed to the lecturer. Shirley later responded by asking his supporters to donate money to help with his security. “I hate that I have to do this, it’s my least favorite part about my life. I knew my life would get even more dangerous when I announced I am suing California and began accepting invitations to speak on college campuses this semester,” he wrote.
Shirley himself interpreted the lecturer’s comment as encouraging someone to assassinate him. “I need to raise money again for security. Doing the right thing and exposing evil now puts your life in danger in today’s society. For example, a UC Irvine ‘lecturer’ (teacher) is insinuating it would be funny to assassinate me and leftist are threatening to kill me constantly,” he added. It remains unclear whether the lecturer will face any consequences over the alleged comment.
Viewers Outraged Over California Lecturer’s Nick Shirley Comment
The comment sparked reactions online. Many viewers were shocked and outraged after seeing the comment attributed to the California lecturer, with some interpreting it as a call for violence against Shirley. “All sense of morality is gone at these campuses. They have been seized by radical leftists,” one person wrote. Another person said, “Sigh. Another day doesn’t go by without some radical left (a ‘teacher’ at that) wishing death upon someone they oppose.”
More people expressed outrage over the alleged comment. “‘Kirkiversary’….Unserious, Unhinged, Incompetent leftists employed to indoctrinate young minds is abhorrent and evil. #LiberalismIsAMentalDisorder,” one person wrote. Another person said, “@UCIrvine and @ChapmanU are you really employing Professors that encourage MURDER? Disgusting‼”
The backlash has continued as the comments spread online, with people questioning whether the universities will address the statements attributed to Goldman. While Shirley has made it clear how he interpreted the “Kirkiversary” remark, Goldman has not publicly explained what he meant. For now, it remains unclear whether either university will take action.
