BUZZ
Previously had made post appearing to praise Luigi Mangione
A University of California Irvine instructor appears to have joked about someone assassinating independent journalist Nick Shirley ahead of a planned appearance at Harvard University.
Shirley, the creator of viral videos exposing fraud in Medicaid and Obamacare programs, is slated to speak Wednesday night to the Harvard Republicans Club.
Underneath a post about the event, UC Irvine instructor Matt Goldman wrote “Someone can do the funniest thing just before the Kirkiversary.” Thursday is the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk.
UC prof says it’d be funny if someone killed Nick Shirley at Harvard “before the Kirkiversary”https://t.co/fWk179dKz3
— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) September 8, 2026
This is not Goldman’s first time appearing to endorse political violence. After the assassination of a UnitedHealthcare CEO in 2024, Goldman wrote “Let’s not pretend as if America isn’t the greatest country on earth.” The Instagram post included a photo of “Super Mario” character Luigi putting a gun to someone’s head. The killer of the healthcare executive is named Luigi Mangione.
Goldman also teaches at Chapman University.
Though his LinkedIn and social media pages have reportedly been removed or hidden, his liberal ideology is clear.
The lecturer is Matthew Goldman who works for @UCIrvine and @ChapmanU.
He's locking down his accounts but the internet is forever. pic.twitter.com/5CYFApg2Of
— Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) September 8, 2026
“At Chapman, he teaches composition courses on protest movements and campus activism,” according to his UC Irvine profile. “At UCI, he teaches about conspiracy theories and mass incarceration. He also teaches creative writing at Santa Ana Jail.”
His LinkedIn says he specializes in “social justice rhetoric and community-centered composition.”
Yard Report, a conservative news website that covers Harvard news, criticized the comments from Goldman.
“Harvard students should not have to wonder whether a university lecturer is cheering on violence against a speaker invited by their classmates,” the site posted on X.
The significance of this rhetoric extends beyond Nick Shirley. Goldman is an instructor entrusted with teaching students—including, inevitably, students on the Right. Publicly joking about or appearing to celebrate political assassination of his political opposition is…
— YARDREPORT (@YARDREP0RT) September 8, 2026
“Nor should students at Chapman or UC Irvine have to wonder whether an instructor responsible for evaluating their work regards violence against their political opponents as something to be celebrated.”
The College Fix called UC Irvine’s media relations office but could only leave a voicemail. The Fix sent a follow-up email asking for comment on what Goldman wrote and if the school would be looking into the matter any further.
The Fix similarly tried to reach Chapman University for comment but a call went straight to voicemail. The Fix sent the same questions to the school’s public relations team.
Neither school immediately responded to the request for comment.
MORE: Be ready for ‘war in the streets,’ UC Santa Barbara professor says
