Fall from grace: Chancellor’s explicit videos prompt unanimous board decision
In a shocking turn of events, the University of Wisconsin La Crosse’s Chancellor, Joe Gow, has been unanimously fired by The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents after explicit adult videos featuring him and his wife surfaced online.
The decision to terminate Gow’s position was made on Wednesday (December 27), with the board expressing deep concern over the chancellor’s ‘abhorrent’ conduct that brought significant reputational harm to the university.
UW President Jay Rothman issued a statement, stating, “In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr. Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm. His actions were abhorrent.”
Gow, who had held the chancellor role since 2007, faced the consequences after launching a YouTube channel, ‘Sexy Healthy Cooking,’ earlier this month, where he and his wife invited adult film stars to cook vegan meals. The couple’s explicit content was available on their OnlyFans page, with links provided on their X (formerly Twitter) account.
The board, led by UW System Regent President Karen Walsh, condemned Gow’s actions, citing a “reckless disregard for the role he was entrusted with.” They expressed alarm and disgust, deeming the actions wholly inconsistent with his responsibilities as chancellor.
Despite Gow’s claim that the videos made no references to the university or his official position, the board took a firm stance, emphasizing that the chancellor’s actions were incompatible with his role.
Gow, a tenured faculty member, will be placed on administrative leave as he transitions into another role within the university. However, a complaint has been filed to review his tenure status, and an independent law firm has been engaged to conduct a thorough investigation.
In an ironic twist, this isn’t the first time Gow has been embroiled in a porn-related scandal. In 2018, he faced criticism for using university funds to pay porn star Nina Hartley $5,000 for a talk about pornography. Following the incident, he apologized and reimbursed the funds from his own pocket.
As Gow faces the consequences of his explicit online activities, the university grapples with the fallout from a scandal that has left its leader ousted and its reputation tarnished.
