The president-elect of the Oxford Union, George Abaraonye, has acknowledged that he celebrated the shooting of political commentator Charlie Kirk, expressing a desire to provoke laughter. This admission follows a controversial message he posted in a WhatsApp group for Union members in September 2025, in which he stated, “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f****** go,” shortly after the incident, which has been labelled a political assassination by US authorities.
Abaraonye, a 20-year-old student studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at University College, Oxford, faced immense backlash for his comments. His message appeared to be an attempt to generate a reaction, but he later deleted it, claiming he was unaware that Kirk had died at the time of his post. Now, he has clarified that he sought to “get a laugh” and stimulate conversation around the event.
In a recent interview with LBC, Abaraonye expressed regret over his comments, stating, “It was a stupid and silly thing for me to say.” He emphasized that he reacted impulsively to a notification without grasping the full context of the situation. “I didn’t really understand the severity of the situation,” he admitted.
As the outrage grew over his comments, Abaraonye attempted to contextualize his reaction, arguing that Kirk’s rhetoric often perpetuated harmful stereotypes. He noted, “He was an incredibly polarising figure, and my reaction is sort of a symptom of how we have discourse online, which is often very reactive.” Despite his disagreements with Kirk, he acknowledged that no one deserves to fall victim to political violence.
The fallout from this incident has been significant for Abaraonye. Following the controversy, he was ousted from his leadership position at the Oxford Union after more than 1,000 members voted against him. He has since claimed that the vote was compromised due to mismanagement of proxy votes, a claim the Oxford Union has denied. The Union’s disciplinary committee stated that they were “not satisfied” that the vote was unsafe, resulting in no recount.
Despite being removed from his role, Abaraonye retains the right to appeal the decision. He has expressed concern that the backlash he faced could deter other students, particularly from minority backgrounds, from engaging in university life. “Representation in elite institutions remains crucial,” he stated, reflecting on his background as a working-class student who benefited from free school meals.
The Oxford Union, an independent debating society with a history spanning over 200 years, has seen increasing scrutiny regarding its leadership and the discourse among its members. Lord Biggar, a Tory peer and Emeritus Professor of Theology at Oxford, criticized Abaraonye’s original post as displaying a “horrifically casual attitude to political violence.” He asserted that such attitudes undermine the values of a liberal institution.
In light of the threats of violence received due to his comments, Abaraonye has sought support from his college, which has implemented measures to assist him. He remains under pressure as he navigates the aftermath of his controversial statements and the broader implications of political discourse in academic settings.
