He pushed book bans and religion in schools. Now he’s accused of screening explicit images at work.

July 28, 2025

Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters is facing allegations that he displayed nude images on his office television during a closed-door meeting with education board members. Two board members, Ryan Deatherage and Becky Carson, claim they witnessed explicit content on a TV connected to Walters' computer, with Carson stating she demanded he turn it off immediately. Walters has denied the accusations, calling them "politically motivated attacks" as he pushes for parental rights and opposes "radical" education agendas.

Who is affected

Oklahoma State Board of Education members, particularly Ryan Deatherage and Becky Carson who witnessed the alleged incident
State Superintendent Ryan Walters whose reputation and position may be at stake
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and other Republican state leaders who are responding to the allegations
Oklahoma students and educational system which Walters oversees (Oklahoma was recently ranked 50th in school quality)
Teachers who have previously been criticized by Walters as "perverts"
LGBTQ+ groups who have faced criticism from Walters' policies and rhetoric

What action is being taken

Oklahoma's Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) has initiated a review of the allegations
Governor Kevin Stitt and other Republican state leaders are supporting an investigation into Walters' conduct
Walters is denying the accusations, calling them "politically motivated attacks"
Board members Deatherage and Carson are publicly speaking out about what they witnessed
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert is urging Walters to "unlock and turn over all relevant devices and fully cooperate with an investigation"

Why it matters

This scandal is particularly significant because Walters has positioned himself as a moral crusader who has called teachers "perverts," backed bans on books he claims contain pornography, and pushed Bibles endorsed by former President Trump on Oklahoma students. The allegations create a stark contradiction between Walters' public stance against explicit materials in schools and the behavior he's now accused of exhibiting. Additionally, the incident adds to existing tensions between Walters and the State Board of Education, which has previously challenged him on issues including free student lunch, teacher assessments, and his partnership with an online school.

What's next

Oklahoma's Office of Management and Enterprise Services will conduct a review of the allegations as called for by state leaders. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert is specifically urging Walters to turn over all relevant devices and fully cooperate with the investigation to clear his name if no wrongdoing occurred. The state's Republican leadership, including Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, has emphasized the need for "more transparency" before conclusions can be drawn about the incident.

Read full article from source: The 19th