US Varsity Reviews Uju Anya’s ‘Hostile, Threatening’ Social Media Posts

Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, is reviewing social media posts attributed to Nigerian-born academic, Dr Uju Anya, following online criticism over comments described by the institution as “hostile and threatening.”

The university said Anya, who is currently on voluntary professional leave, is not teaching courses on its campus during the current academic year.

In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Carnegie Mellon said it was concerned by the recent posts and was assessing the matter.

“We are deeply concerned by recent hostile and threatening social media posts by Dr. Anya and are reviewing this matter closely,” the university said.

The institution subsequently clarified that the posts should not be interpreted as reflecting its position.

“To be clear: These posts incorrectly imply our university’s endorsement and are contrary to our community standards and values as well as our commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and welcoming campus community,” Carnegie Mellon said.

The university’s intervention followed intense online criticism of posts attributed to Anya, including a recent exchange in which she allegedly responded to an X user with a comment wishing death on a “white man.”

The exchange was highlighted by an X account, Wuhan Fourth Turning Swan (@TheWuhanClan), which shared screenshots and details of the interaction.

According to the material circulated online, the exchange stemmed from a February 17, 2021 post by Anya concerning the late conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.

Anya had written: “Rush Limbaugh finally did something positive in life by dropping dead. Good Riddance to bad rubbish.”

Responding to the post, the X user asked: “Weird how you only celebrate the deaths of white people. Why is that?”

Anya allegedly replied: “Die first, white man, then ask yourself why I’m dancing.”

The latest controversy has drawn reactions online, including calls for action against the academic.

The matter also drew attention from Elon Musk, who posted, “This is a real professor at Carnegie Mellon University …” while quoting a Grok discussion which stated Anya’s full name as Obianuju Anya and identified her as a staff member of CMU since 2021.

The university did not identify all the posts under review or specify whether the circulating screenshot of the “Die first, white man…” message was among them.

It also did not announce that Anya had been suspended, dismissed or subjected to any other disciplinary sanction.

It is not the first time Anya’s social media activity has attracted widespread attention.

In 2022, she faced criticism after posting comments about the then-British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, in which she wished the Queen an “excruciating” pain.

Carnegie Mellon had also publicly condemned those remarks at the time.

However, Anya’s X account has now subsequently became inaccessible following the backlash, triggering reports that she had deactivated it.