Judge Orders Ohio State To Remove 'Involuntary Disenrollment' From TikToker's Record After Free-Speech Ruling

A federal judge has ordered Ohio State University to remove any notation that a former student was "involuntarily disenrolled" after the school expelled him over social-media videos officials said incited violence.

U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by Guy Christensen, a 19-year-old TikTok creator represented by the ACLU of Ohio. The judge concluded Christensen has shown a strong likelihood of success on claims that Ohio State violated his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

Background

The ACLU said it filed the lawsuit in September 2025 after campus officials summarily disenrolled Christensen without a hearing amid an uproar over clips he posted on personal social media accounts about the Israel-Hamas war. Christensen’s discipline stemmed from two videos he uploaded in May 2025 after leaving campus for summer break.

What Christensen Posted

In a May 22 video, Christensen initially condemned the killing of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C., then later the same day posted a separate clip retracting that condemnation. In the second video he said, "I take it back. I do not condemn the elimination of those two Zionist officials, who worked at the Israeli embassy last night," read aloud the shooter’s manifesto, and referred to the attacker as a "resistance fighter" rather than a terrorist. He also said the killings were being used to "weaponize violence against the movement" and urged followers to "meet with escalation and stronger resistance."

Another May video targeted Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., criticizing Torres’s comment that Israel’s actions in Gaza did not amount to genocide. Christensen warned that screenshots "are forever," suggested elected officials who "facilitated and protected this genocide" could face "Nuremberg trials," and said, "He is a Zionist scumbag. And I hope that the money he sleeps on at night stains his pajamas blood red." According to reporting cited in court filings, Rep. Torres interpreted the post as a threat and sought assistance from U.S. Capitol Police.

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., speaks during 'March For Israel' at the National Mall on Nov. 14, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

Christensen later posted videos denying that his remarks were antisemitic, that he was inciting violence, or that he encouraged followers to make threats.

Court Findings

Judge Sargus emphasized that the First Amendment protects "loathsome and unpopular speech" as much as celebrated speech.

Judge Sargus described the videos as "polarizing," but found no evidence that the posts caused actual violence or lawlessness. He concluded the posts advocated "resistance and escalation in the form of lawful action," and he determined Ohio State denied Christensen due process by cancelling a scheduled disciplinary meeting and instead disenrolling him without a hearing.

While litigation continues, the court granted a preliminary injunction ordering Ohio State to expunge any reference to "involuntary disenrollment" from Christensen’s academic record within 10 days. The order also requires Christensen to post a $100 bond within the same period.

Reaction And Next Steps

Celebrating the ruling on TikTok, Christensen told followers, "I’m sincerely happy to be able to tell you of our victory for free speech this week. Your support has meant so much to me, thank you." He said he felt "vindicated" after what he described as being "smeared" and "doxxed" over his views.

Ohio State University, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and Rep. Ritchie Torres did not immediately respond to requests for comment.