By FOX Carolina News Staff
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – A South Carolina high school teacher has been terminated after making controversial and inflammatory comments online regarding the death of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, sparking public outcry and condemnation from community members and elected officials.
The teacher, identified as Wynne Boliek, was employed by the Greenville County School District and taught social studies at Southside High School. Boliek came under intense scrutiny after allegedly posting a message to Facebook that appeared to celebrate Kirk’s death following a fatal shooting. The post, which has since been deleted but widely shared via screenshots, read:
“Thoughts and prayers to his children but IMHO [in my honest opinion] America became greater today. There I said it.”
The comment was rapidly circulated across social media platforms and drew swift backlash from both the public and political leaders, who denounced the post as inappropriate, insensitive, and unbecoming of an educator responsible for shaping young minds.
Among those who publicly condemned Boliek’s statement were U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace and U.S. Rep. William Timmons, both of whom took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their outrage and call for disciplinary action.
“Greenville County Schools, we believe you may have some explaining to do,” Rep. Mace posted. “No one celebrating the loss of a human life should be allowed anywhere near children.”
Rep. Timmons added in a separate post:
“A public school teacher in my district is openly celebrating the horrific murder of Charlie Kirk. This is vile, hateful, and dangerous. No one who glorifies political violence should be allowed near students. He should be fired immediately.”
In response to the growing controversy, Greenville County Schools initially placed Boliek on administrative leave pending an investigation. Following the completion of the inquiry, the district released a public statement confirming Boliek’s termination.
“We have concluded our investigation of the matter and confirmed the inappropriate message was written by Mr. Boliek. He is no longer employed with Greenville County Schools,” the statement read. “We strongly condemn the message shared by the former employee as it does not reflect the standards we expect of our staff. We remain committed to upholding the values of professionalism and respect for our students, families, colleagues, and community.”
While many in the community applauded the school district’s swift action, the incident has reignited national debates about the boundaries of free speech, the role of educators in public discourse, and the ethical responsibilities of those working in public education.
Some civil liberties advocates have raised questions about whether Boliek’s dismissal crosses into the realm of First Amendment violations, especially given that the comment was made on a personal social media account. However, legal experts point out that public employees — particularly educators — are often held to higher standards when it comes to speech that could disrupt the school environment or reflect poorly on their institution.
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was known for his outspoken conservative views and influence among young voters. His death, the circumstances of which remain under investigation, has been a focal point of national media coverage and political reaction.
The incident has left many in the Greenville community shaken, with parents, students, and faculty expressing disappointment and concern over the teacher’s comments. Several community members have called for increased training for school staff on professional conduct and social media usage.
As the story continues to unfold, it serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities educators bear both in and out of the classroom and the impact their words can have in a hyper-connected digital age.
Reference: WFSB-Channel 3 Eyewitness News
