A professor in Canada has been fired for posting hateful comments against gay people on his personal Facebook page.

Rick Coupland, a business professor at St Lawrence College, Ontario was sacked from his job for suggesting that gay people should be hanged on his Facebook page.

The scholar shared a post about the mayor of a Florida town that raised the rainbow flag to celebrate pride month, adding his own comment, “It’s the queers they should be hanging, not the flag.”

A former student at St Lawrence saw the comment, complained to his alma mater and uploaded screenshots of the post – which were quickly shared on social media.

The university later tweeted saying that the matter was being investigated:

Recent comments on social media by an SLC staff member are under investigation. Once complete, we will take appropriate action. @gvollebregt

— St. Lawrence College (@whatsinsideslc) July 20, 2015

  Later that day, the professor updated his status saying: “I have to get off Facebook for awhile.” “I’ve been called into work and told to bring a representative re; my comments on FB. Please pray for me and my job,” he wrote.  

Today, St Lawrence College confirmed that Coupland “is no longer an employee.”  

1 of 2: As a result of complaints about comments made on social media that were brought forward to the College, — St. Lawrence College (@whatsinsideslc) July 21, 2015

2 of 2: this matter was investigated internally. Mr. Coupland is no longer an employee at St. Lawrence College.

— St. Lawrence College (@whatsinsideslc) July 21, 2015

Coupland has not made any further comments.