A chancellor at a university in Wisconsin was fired after he made adult films with his wife and uploaded them online.
The University of Wisconsin System’s Board of Regents voted unanimously to fire University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, 63, from his position, according to a statement from the university. Gow had served as the university’s chancellor since 2007.
“Upon my recommendation, the UW Board of Regents today terminated Dr. Joe Gow from his position as chancellor of UW-LA Crosse effective immediately,” the statement from UW-LA Crosse President Jay Rothman said. “In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr. Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm. His actions were abhorrent.”
Betsy Morgan on Wednesday was named interim chancellor at UW-La Crosse. Morgan, who came to UWL in 1993, has served as provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs since 2017.
— UW-La Crosse (@UWLaCrosse) December 28, 2023
Read the full statement: https://t.co/Lsqemcx7PT pic.twitter.com/lmbcgaIa13
Gow and his wife, Carmen Wilson reportedly appeared in several pornographic videos on several pornographic websites under the name, “Sexy Happy Couple,” according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS).
The couple, who has been married since 2014, also reportedly published two books under fake names that detail their experience in the adult film industry.
“This board is charged with the stewardship of our great Universities of Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Dr. Joe Gow has shown a reckless disregard for the role he was entrusted with at UW-LA Crosse to serve students, faculty and staff, and the campus community,” UW System Regent President Karen Walsh said in a statement. “The outrage over his behavior is evidenced by the unanimous vote by the UW Board of Regents to terminate him as chancellor. We are alarmed, and disgusted, by his actions, which were wholly and undeniably inconsistent with his role as chancellor.”
Gow and his wife also allegedly appeared on a YouTube channel called, “Sexy Healthy Cooking” in which they appeared with adult film stars and made vegan meals, according to KARE 11 News.
The former chancellor is reportedly no stranger to holding controversial views. In 2018, Gow received backlash after inviting adult film star Nina Hartley to speak on campus. Gow was reprimanded for using “poor judgment” and was denied a pay raise.
“There’s nothing said about the University of Wisconsin; there’s nothing said about the chancellor (on the videos),” Gow told the MJS of his firing. “So someone else would have to make those associations. And then someone would have to say those are problematic.”
Gow defended authoring the books and taking part in the adult videos as being part of his right to free speech under the First Amendment.