George Abaraonye, Oxford Union’s incoming president, faces fierce backlash for mocking Charlie Kirk’s assassination with celebratory posts, prompting demands for his expulsion and condemnation from the university
Outrage has erupted across social media and beyond after George Abaraonye, the incoming president of the Oxford Union, appeared to mock the assassination of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The shocking comments, shared in a private WhatsApp group, have ignited a firestorm of criticism, with many labelling them as utterly callous and unfit for a leader of one of the world’s most prestigious debating societies.
Kirk, a 31-year-old firebrand and close ally of Donald Trump, was tragically gunned down on Wednesday at Utah Valley University.
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He was mid-debate on mass shootings when a single bullet struck him in the neck, in what authorities described as a targeted political assassination.
Eyewitnesses recounted the horror as blood poured from the wound, and despite rushed medical aid, Kirk succumbed shortly after.
President Trump swiftly condemned the act, blaming “radical Left” rhetoric and vowing to pursue those responsible, while flags were lowered to half-mast in his honour.
Just hours after the news broke, Abaraonye, a 20-year-old Nigerian heritage student at University College, Oxford, posted in a group chat for Union freshers: “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f***ing go.”
Another message, believed to be on his Instagram, read: “Charlie Kirk got shot loool.” The phrases, laced with Gen Z slang for celebration and laughter, were swiftly deleted but screenshots spread like wildfire online.
The irony cuts deep.
Abaraonye had debated Kirk at the Oxford Union just months ago in May, clashing over “toxic masculinity.”
Kirk, ever the provocateur, ended the exchange by urging the young student to “think about” their discussion.
Now, with Kirk silenced forever, Abaraonye’s glee has stunned observers who see it as a grotesque betrayal of the Union’s cherished free speech ethos.
The backlash has been swift and unrelenting.
On X, formerly Twitter, users branded Abaraonye a “classless cretin” and demanded his immediate expulsion.
One prominent voice, journalist Peter Lloyd, highlighted Abaraonye’s past rhetoric, quoting him as saying certain figures “should be taken down by any means necessary” and calling them “cancers in society.”
Commentators like Toby Young defended free speech but argued the remarks render his presidency untenable.
The Oxford Union moved quickly to distance itself. In a strongly worded statement, it “unequivocally condemned” Abaraonye’s words, reaffirming its opposition to political violence and extending condolences to Kirk’s wife and two young children.
“His reported views do not represent the Oxford Union’s current leadership,” it emphasised, noting the society’s independence from Abaraonye’s incoming administration.
Oxford University echoed the dismay.
A spokesperson declared: “We deplore comments appearing to endorse violence – they are unacceptable and entirely contrary to the values of our community.”
Questions have also swirled about Abaraonye’s admission, given reports of his achieving only two B grades at A-level, below the typical AAA minimum for popular courses.
Yet, as president-elect elected in June, he also holds a vice-presidency in the Oxford African and Caribbean Society, contributing to the university’s Race Equality Task Force post-2020 Black Lives Matter initiatives.
Abaraonye has since apologised, admitting he “reacted impulsively” amid heated feelings towards Kirk’s controversial stances on issues like transgender rights and racial politics.
In a statement to The Oxford Student, he acknowledged the pain caused but defended his underlying disdain for Kirk’s views as “horrific and dehumanising.”
Critics, however, dismissed the remorse as too little, too late, with calls growing for the Union to reconsider his role.
As the manhunt for Kirk’s killer intensifies – with the FBI releasing images of a person of interest and a $100,000 reward on offer – this scandal underscores a chilling rise in political vitriol.
From Trump’s rallying cry against demonisation to bipartisan horror in the US, the world watches. For Oxford, once a beacon of civil discourse, Abaraonye’s misstep feels like a devastating blow to its storied reputation.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
