Modern Family star Ed O’Neill says he’s going to RETURN honorary doctorate to Youngstown State University after it chose Trump-backing congressman as new president
Modern Family star Ed O'Neill said he will return his honorary degree to Youngstown State University following the appointment of Trump-supporting Congressman Bill Johnson as the new president.
The veteran actor, 77, called the hiring of conservative Rep. Bill Johnson “disgraceful” in an article shared by the YSU chapter of the Ohio Education Association on social media.
“I have a doctorate from YSU, an honorary doctorate, that I'm going to give back. I don't want it,” O'Neill said.
“I'm going to call it Trump-U. And I think a lot of people feel that way,” he added, as quoted in the article.
The article, originally published on Ideastream Public Mediaemerged amid alumni backlash after the school hired Republican Congressman Bill Johnson, who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Modern Family star Ed O'Neill, 77, called the hiring of conservative Rep. Bill Johnson “disgraceful” in an article shared on social media by the YSU chapter of the Ohio Education Association
Congressman Johnson voted to overturn the 2020 election results and supported Donald Trump in the 2024 election
Youngstown State University hired Republican Congressman Bill Johnson, who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election
O'Neill, who played football for YSU, said the university's board of trustees hired Johnson for political motives.
“I know they say it's not political. Of course it is. … If you said it wasn't, you'd have to be an artichoke,” he said.
He further suggested that the entire board of directors should be fired for choosing Johnson, with the exception of Trustee Molly Seal, who voted against hiring the congresswoman, the article said.
“They have to find the right person for the job in a real vetting process where the teachers and the faculty and the students and the people find someone they can agree with, or certainly not disagree with to this extent,” he said.
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, O'Neill played for the university's football team in his junior and senior years.
The actor, best known for his roles in Married… With Children and Modern Family, received his honorary doctorate from YSU in May 2013.
Last week, YSU's board of trustees voted eight-to-one in favor of appointing Johnson as the school's 10th president.
More than a hundred people protested against the appointment during the meeting
A protester can be seen holding a sign that reads, “Reject Johnson, Save YSU.”
Last week, YSU's board of trustees voted eight-to-one in favor of appointing Johnson as the school's 10th president, despite more than a hundred people protesting the appointment at the meeting.
A protester can be seen holding a sign that reads, “Reject Johnson, Save YSU.”
Congressman Johnson voted to overturn the 2020 election results endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 elections.
According to local reports, between 2009 and 2022 he received donations totaling more than $86,000 from three administrators – Charles George, Richard Fryd and Joseph Kerola.
After the hire was announced, former university President Jim Tressel said, “Bill Johnson has an unwavering belief in higher education, a strong belief in people and his wide range of leadership experiences will serve him well at YSU.
To his critics, Johnson said First news last week: 'I'm going to be president. I have a contract that says I'm going to do that, and soon.”
'People say I'm this, that or the other, and there's no truth in that. “If they would just talk to me first and then draw their conclusion, I think we would be a lot further down the road,” Johnson said.