The University of Toronto has placed a professor on administrative leave following controversial social media comments. The university took swift action after receiving reports about the posts made by Ruth Marshall, an associate professor of religion and political science.

On Thursday, Ontario’s Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn highlighted the issue by sharing a news article about Marshall's comments regarding the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. In her now-removed post, Marshall allegedly stated that shooting was too lenient for fascists. Quinn emphasized that he had communicated the need for the university to respond decisively.

In an email, the University of Toronto Faculty Association confirmed that Marshall is no longer on campus. The university stated, "The faculty member is now on leave and not on campus. The matter is being looked into and the university will not be commenting further." Marshall has not responded to requests for comment.

Kirk, who was the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on Wednesday while speaking at an outdoor event at a college in Utah. A 22-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Quinn criticized Marshall's comments, stating they contradict the values of higher education. He wrote on social media, "Universities and their professors are supposed to foster critical thought, respectful debate, and be safe learning environments – and this professor’s violent rhetoric flagrantly flies in the face of that."

Marshall is not the only public figure facing backlash for comments made after Kirk's death. Nahanni Fontaine, Manitoba’s families minister, shared a post that labeled Kirk as racist and a white nationalist. The post expressed a lack of empathy for Kirk, focusing instead on his children. Fontaine later deleted the post and issued an apology, stating that violence has no place in democracy. Despite calls for her resignation from the Opposition, Premier Wab Kinew has supported Fontaine, expressing a desire to help her understand the importance of unity.