A former biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) who was terminated in September for sharing a social media post referencing slain conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk has reached a $485,000 settlement with the state, according to a statement from the ACLU of Florida.
Brittney Brown, the biologist, expressed her frustration in a statement released by the ACLU. "All I wanted was my job back. I see no leaders amongst FWC 'leadership,' but that's to be expected when a state agency becomes the governor's personal puppet show," she wrote.
The controversy began on September 10, 2026, when Brown shared a post on her private Instagram account. The original post, from a comedic whale-themed account, read: "The whales are deeply saddened to learn of the shooting of charlie kirk, haha just kidding, they care exactly as much as charlie kirk cared about children being shot in their classrooms, which is to say, not at all."
Following an investigation, the FWC announced Brown's firing, stating, "We have a zero-tolerance policy towards the promotion of violence and hate, and we will not stand for such behavior." The commission's statement on social media emphasized that the employee's comments were not aligned with the agency's values or mission.
Brown's repost gained widespread attention after the right-wing social media account "Libs of TikTok" shared a screenshot of the post alongside her LinkedIn profile on X, calling for her immediate termination. The lawsuit argued that Brown's status as a public employee would have remained unknown "but for the doxing engaged in by the 'Libs of Tik Tok' account."
According to the lawsuit, Brown received a call from her supervisor less than 24 hours after the exposure, giving her the choice between resignation or termination. The FWC confirmed her termination on September 15, 2025.
Brown noted in her statement that someone alerted Libs of TikTok about her firing within ten minutes of her meeting with FWC officials, before any public announcement. The ACLU of Florida confirmed that the state agreed to settle Brown's claim that her First Amendment rights were violated.
"The 'Free State of Florida' only provides First Amendment protections to those in favor with the current administration, while the rest of us are expected to fall in line or risk losing our livelihoods," Brown wrote.
The settlement includes $275,000 in compensatory damages, $40,000 in back wages, $235,000 in compensatory damages, and $210,000 in attorneys' fees. Brown will also receive a neutral reference for future employment.
Brown criticized the administration, stating, "This administration would rather spend Floridians' tax dollars to line the pockets of the governor's chosen law firms than admit they made a poor, politically motivated decision." She concluded, "These concerning practices underscore the extent to which political pressure from Tallahassee is influencing our state agencies. FWC employees deserve better, and so do Floridians."
