It’s been said that everyone has a secret hobby. For University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s former chancellor, Joe Gow, that hobby happened to be pornography. While some may use their downtime to read, watch movies, or even knit, Gow preferred to spice things up in a different way. He and his wife, Carmen Wilson, not only starred in their own adult content but posted it online for all to see.
Their public account, “Sexy Happy Couple,” featured a variety of videos that sometimes even included well-known porn stars. Their work appeared not only on Pornhub but also on the subscription-based platform OnlyFans. Some may argue that everyone deserves to indulge in their passions, but unfortunately for Gow, his extracurricular activities cost him his job.
The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents unanimously decided to fire Gow, citing his “abhorrent” conduct. It seems that even the board wasn’t keen on the idea of a chancellor filming himself engaging in sexual acts. UW President Jay Rothman issued a statement condemning Gow’s actions, stating that they “subjected the university to significant reputational harm.”
It may be a tad ironic that the same man who previously paid a porn star to speak to students on campus went on to become a porn star himself. The cherry on top is that his actions weren’t exactly inconspicuous, and it’s unclear how he thought he’d get away with it. Perhaps he underestimated the reach and power of the internet, or maybe he was just really proud of his work.
Regardless of his rationale, Gow’s fate has been sealed. His time as UW-La Crosse’s chancellor has come to an abrupt end. This should serve as a cautionary tale to anyone who thinks that their after-hours hobbies won’t affect their professional lives.
In Gow’s case, his decision to participate in the porn industry not only resulted in his termination but also in significant damage to the university’s reputation.
