Wisconsin university chancellor fired for porn videos with wife

The chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is out of a job because he posted a series of porn videos with his wife.

UW regents on Wednesday unanimously fired Chancellor Joe Gow.

“Upon my recommendation, the UW Board of Regents today terminated Dr. Joe Gow from his position as chancellor of UW-La Crosse effective immediately. In recent days, we learned of specific conduct by Dr. Gow that has subjected the university to significant reputational harm. His actions were abhorrent,” UW President Jay Rothman said in a statement.

Gow and his wife, also a UW-La Crosse professor, posted a series of videos on OnlyFans and other adult websites under the name Sexy Happy Couple.

The videos feature Gow and his wife having sex.

There is no evidence the Gows used any university time, equipment or office space to make the videos.

Gow, on Wednesday, defended the videos as part of his expression of free speech.

“My wife and I are very grateful to have the right to create and publish books and videos that explore consensual adult sexuality,” Gow said in a statement. “We are disappointed the UW Board of Regents have not given us a public hearing about this.”

The books that Gow referred to were written under the pen names Geri and Jay Hart but use pictures of Gow and his wife.

The two also have a YouTube cooking channel where they make vegan dishes with professional porn stars.

One of the stars in one of those videos is Nina Hartley. Gow was denied a raise a few years ago because he invited Hartley to speak on the UW-La Crosse campus. He called her appearance a “free speech” event.

Gow was the longest-serving chancellor in the UW System. He’d been La Crosse’s chancellor since 2007.

Gow had already announced plans to step down as chancellor at the end of this school year. He planned to continue working as a professor, but that may not happen now.

Gow has been placed on paid administrative leave, but Rothman said Wednesday that paid leave is likely just the first step toward Gow’s total dismissal.

“I have filed a complaint this evening with interim Chancellor Betsy Morgan regarding Dr. Gow’s status as a tenured faculty member, asking that such status be reviewed. In addition, an outside law firm has been engaged to undertake a fulsome investigation of the matter,” Rothman added.

Gow told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he doesn’t regret releasing the porn videos, but says his firing “shocked him.”