In a landmark victory for student free speech rights, Dr. Kimberly Diei secured a $250,000 settlement after the University of Tennessee’s College of Pharmacy attempted to expel her over social media posts featuring lyrics from Cardi B’s WAP and Beyoncé’s Partition.
Diei, who pursued her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, never imagined that sharing content under her pseudonym “KimmyKasi” would spark a legal battle with nationwide implications.
In 2021, she sued the university after it launched two disciplinary investigations, alleging that her posts were “crude,” “vulgar,” and “sexual.”
“They said that they did not like a lot of the content that was posted and left me to guess what was the issue,” Diei explained. “They never stated any specifics.”
But instead of backing down, Diei fought back, asserting that the university had no right to police her personal social media activity.
With the support of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), she took legal action, ultimately proving that the university’s actions violated her First Amendment rights.
Legal Battle Ends in Major Settlement
The case reached national prominence when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled in Diei’s favor, overturning a lower court’s dismissal of her lawsuit.
This ruling reinforced that public institutions cannot discipline students for legally protected speech.
Greg H. Greubel, an attorney for FIRE, emphasized the case’s broader significance:
“Kim has proven something FIRE has said for 25 years: The First Amendment robustly protects students’ rights to have a voice outside of school, even if college administrators don’t like what they have to say.”
University spokesperson Melissa Tindell declined to comment on the legal settlement.
A Personal and Professional Triumph
Despite the stress of the legal battle, Diei successfully completed her pharmacy degree and now works as a pharmacist in Memphis, Tennessee. She recently reflected on the emotional toll of the ordeal during a sit down with Dr Phil:
“It still feels so surreal that I even had to go through this ordeal. And, you know, now I’m getting a check from it. I was just trying to like stick up for myself. I wasn’t planning on becoming like a leader of free speech or anything.”
Diei, who recently met Dr. Phil and appeared on national television, has big plans for her settlement funds, including paying off student loans, investing, and taking a well-earned vacation. She also had a message for those who doubted her:
“It’s at this time that I want to sincerely extend a shout out to my haters… I hope my continued success eats you up inside and you think about me every single time you log on. Thank you again for giving me 250,000 reasons to smile.”
Setting a Precedent for Student Rights
Diei’s victory sends a strong message to universities nationwide about the limits of their authority over students’ personal lives.
The case represents ongoing debates about free speech, social media censorship, and university overreach.
With this settlement, Diei secured justice for herself and paved the way for future students to freely express themselves without fear of retaliation.
