Joe Gow, the former Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, was terminated unanimously by the Board of Regents of the Universities of Wisconsin subsequent to the disclosure of information regarding his collaboration with Carmen Wilson in the production of adult content. UW President Jay Rothman issued a statement announcing the decision, which he characterized as a reaction to Gow’s “Abhorrent” behavior.
Since 2007, Gow, who has been affiliated with the university, and his spouse, have been featured in multiple online pornographic videos under the handle “Sexy Happy Couple.” Some of these videos featured celebrities from the pornographic film industry and were uploaded to sites like OnlyFans and Pornhub.
Karen Walsh, regent president of the UW system, vehemently denounced Gow’s conduct, describing it as “completely and incongruous” with his position as chancellor. Due to the consequence of the decision, Gow will be granted paid administrative leave during the process of resuming his faculty responsibilities. Furthermore, Rothman has lodged a formal complaint with interim chancellor Betsy Morgan, requesting an investigation into Gow’s tenure as a faculty member.
Gow provided a defense for his conduct, asserting that although his visage was visible in the videos, he never disclosed any affiliations with his academic position. He contended that the subject matter, which delves into consensual adult sexuality, is protected by his First Amendment right to free expression. Additionally, Gow stated that no funds from the institution were used to develop the content.
The former chancellor raised concerns regarding the extent to which due process was adhered to, asserting that he was not notified in advance of the board meeting. In the past, Gow and his spouse operated a YouTube culinary channel known as “Sexy Healthy Cooking,” during which they enlisted adult film celebrities to prepare vegan meals and interspersed the videos with suggestive sequences.
Gow has prior experience with the pornographic film industry. In 2018, he drew criticism for using discretionary La Crosse funds to pay adult film luminary Nina Hartley $5,000 to deliver a speech at the university, reassuring students that “liking porn” is “okay.” Later, Gow issued a restitution and apology to the institution.
Wilson and Gow, who first became acquainted while she presided over the search committee that appointed him chancellor, have secretly authored two books concerning their partnership in the pornographic industry. Their experiences are explored in the books “Married with Benefits: Our Real-life Adult Industry Adventures” (2018) and “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enriches Our Relationship” (2015).
The dismissal of Gow as chancellor signifies a pivotal moment in his professional trajectory, drawing attention to the intricate matters entwined with academic professionalism and personal ethics. As the university delves into the consequences of this decision, the circumstances persistently progress.