Arizona College Professor Faces Backlash for Controversial Remarks

University of Arizona lecturer under fire for telling 'MAGA' and 'Zionists' to 'F--k Off'

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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An American Sign Language lecturer at the University of Arizona is facing calls to step down after posting 'F—k Israel' on social media and telling his followers to 'F—k off' if they are 'MAGA' or 'Zionists'. The comments have sparked outrage and accusations of antisemitism, with a US-based advocacy group demanding his termination.

Why it matters

The incident highlights ongoing tensions around free speech, academic freedom, and the boundaries of acceptable discourse, especially when it comes to criticism of Israel and Zionism. It also underscores the challenges universities face in balancing the rights of faculty to express personal views with their responsibility to provide a welcoming environment for all students.

The details

In a video posted to TikTok in December 2025, Jason Gervase, a lecturer at the University of Arizona, told his over 100,000 followers that 'If you are MAGA, if you are a Zionist, or you are anti-human rights, this is not your space.' He also posted 'F—k Israel' on social media. Liora Rez, the founder of StopAntisemitism, a US-based advocacy group, sent a letter to the university demanding Gervase's termination, calling his conduct 'deeply disturbing and fundamentally incompatible with the responsibilities of a university educator.' The university said Gervase's comments 'do not represent the university's position,' but noted that as a public institution, employees have the right to express personal views.

  • On December 18, 2025, Gervase posted the controversial video on TikTok.

The players

Jason Gervase

A lecturer in American Sign Language at the University of Arizona who is facing backlash for his controversial social media posts.

Liora Rez

The founder and executive director of StopAntisemitism, a US-based advocacy group that has called for Gervase's termination.

University of Arizona

The public university where Gervase is employed as a lecturer, which has stated that his comments 'do not represent the university's position.'

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What they’re saying

“'If you are MAGA, if you are a Zionist, or you are anti-human rights, this is not your space.'”

— Jason Gervase, Lecturer, University of Arizona (TikTok)

“'As a parent myself, I thought to myself, if I had a deaf child, what would happen if he or she was in their classroom with these kind of biases and this hatred and this rhetoric. I wouldn't want my child there. I wouldn't want to be paying tuition for my child to be in these kinds of situations.'”

— Liora Rez, Founder and Executive Director, StopAntisemitism (The California Post)

“'I am a dedicated professor, and I will not allow a coordinated digital mob to litigate my private, protected speech. I am grateful for the principles of academic freedom that protect all of us from the reach of those who wish to silence others.'”

— Jason Gervase (Threads)

What’s next

The University of Arizona is reviewing Gervase's comments and the calls for his termination, and is expected to make a decision on his employment status in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between free speech, academic freedom, and the need for universities to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students. It underscores the challenges institutions face in balancing these competing priorities, especially when it comes to controversial political and social issues.