Joe Gow, a University of Wisconsin professor, continues to earn over $90,000 annually despite being demoted for making X-rated “vegan cooking” videos with porn stars. He was fired from his role as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse last year but was allowed to remain as a communications professor, with his income dropping from $263,000 to $92,000.
Gow claims his adult video career is not financially sustaining, calling it a hobby. At 64 years old, he is currently on paid leave and not allowed on campus, pending a hearing later this year to determine if he can return to teaching. Despite his demotion and restrictions, Gow is still producing explicit content at a fast pace.
The interim chancellor has filed charges against Gow, including accusations of unethical conduct, failure to cooperate with an investigation, and using school computers to produce pornographic materials. These charges are related to two racy e-books he wrote with his wife under pseudonyms. Gow maintains that his videos and books did not mention UW-La Crosse or his university role and believes his free speech rights were violated by his termination.
Gow, who goes by the online moniker “Sexy Happy Couple” with his wife, stresses that their content is ethical and consensual, emphasizing their love and enjoyment. Despite facing criticism for his involvement in the porn industry, some students support Gow and argue that his personal choices should not impact his ability to teach. Others believe that his involvement in porn perpetuates issues like sex trafficking and victimization.
A debate has been sparked in the city of La Crosse over Gow’s fitness to teach young adults, with opinions divided among students and residents. While some argue that his personal life should not affect his professional career, others believe that his involvement in the porn industry is detrimental to his role as an educator. Regardless, Gow remains proud of his work and the impact it has had on his marriage.
Gow is set to represent himself at the upcoming hearing and maintains his innocence, stating that the burden of proof lies with the university to show that he did something wrong. Despite his financial losses from the demotion, he stands by his decision to engage in adult content creation, viewing it as a positive influence on his relationship with his wife. The university spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment on the situation.
