Universities of Wisconsin President Fires Chancellor Over 'Abhorrent' OnlyFans Videos

Universities of Wisconsin President Fires Chancellor Over 'Abhorrent' OnlyFans Videos

MADISON, Wis. — Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman justified the recent firing of UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, who posted adult videos with his wife on their OnlyFans account, by calling his actions “abhorrent.”

Both Rothman — a retired corporate attorney with no advanced academic studies beyond his law degree — and UW System Board of Regents President Karen Walsh issued statements last week regarding the Board of Regents’ unanimous decision to terminate Gow.

“Upon my recommendation, the UW Board of Regents today terminated Dr. Joe Gow from his position as chancellor of UW-La Crosse effective immediately,” Rothman stated. “In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr. Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm. His actions were abhorrent.”

Rothman said he had also filed a formal complaint asking for a review of Gow’s status as a tenured faculty member, and engaged a law firm “to undertake a fulsome investigation of the matter.”

Walsh said Gow’s adult videos showed “a reckless disregard for the role he was entrusted with at UW-La Crosse to serve students, faculty and staff, and the campus community.

“The outrage over his behavior is evidenced by the unanimous vote by the UW Board of Regents to terminate him as chancellor,” she added, noting the members of the Board were “alarmed and disgusted” by Gow’s actions.

'There Are and Must Be Limits"

On Friday, Rothman issued another statement claiming Gow “served at the pleasure of the Board of Regents and is not entitled to any specific process” regarding his actions or the termination.

“Good judgment requires that there are and must be limits on what is said or done by the individuals entrusted to lead our universities,” Rothman explained. “We expect our chancellors, as the leaders of these great institutions, to be role models for our students, staff, and faculty as well for the communities we are privileged to serve.”

Gow argued that the regents had overreacted and that the termination violates his freedom of speech, the local Fox affiliate reported.

In 2018, Gow was denied a pay raise by the previous UW president after he invited noted performer and veteran sex educator Nina Hartley to campus.

Conservative publications have been clamoring for Gow to be disciplined and stripped of his tenure.

The Murdoch family-owned New York Post published an editorial Saturday calling Gow’s adult video postings on Only Fans part of “a rot in higher education” which “runs wide and deep.”

The Post editorial board said Gow “enjoyed the frisson of being a prominent figure in education who dabbled in smut,” and described his campus invitation to Hartley — a feminist sex educator with decades of experience in public sexual health, and a registered nurse who holds an honorary doctorate from San Francisco’s Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality — as “exactly the kind of coy but in-your-face behavior weirdos with respectable public personae engage in.”

Main Image: Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Show More