The Oxford Union is facing a wave of cancellations and internal fallout after its president-elect, George Abaraonye, was reported to have posted messages celebrating the shooting of American political activist Charlie Kirk.
Several invited speakers have withdrawn from forthcoming events and an officer of the charity that owns the Union’s buildings has resigned in protest, after screenshots and reports circulated showing Abaraonye posting on WhatsApp and Instagram that "Charlie Kirk got shot, let's f***ing go" and "Charlie Kirk got shot loool," according to the Union.
The Union issued a statement saying it "would like to unequivocally condemn the reported words and sentiments expressed by the president-elect," and the University of Oxford said it "deplored" the comments and distanced itself from the student society. U.S. entrepreneur Josh Wolfe, co-founder of Lux Capital, cancelled an appearance at the Union, as did Liora Rez, executive director of the campaign group StopAntisemitism. The honorary secretary of the Oxford Literary Debating & Union Trust, which owns the Union’s buildings, resigned in protest.
Abaraonye, 20, told student media he had "reacted impulsively" and said he had extended his condolences to Mr. Kirk's family. "To be clear," he added, "nobody deserves to be the victim of political violence." He has previously taken part in a May debate at the Union with Mr. Kirk, a conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA.
The reported posts and the ensuing backlash have prompted calls for Abaraonye to resign as president-elect. He was elected to serve as the Union’s Michaelmas term president, a one-term role chosen from the society’s membership of students. The position is historically prominent, and past Union figures have gone on to careers in public life.
Abaraonye’s student biography and interviews have noted a rapid rise through Oxford’s extracurricular societies. He read Politics, Philosophy and Economics after attending a state school in west London, and was active in several student groups. In interviews he has discussed his family background and the significance of gaining a place at Oxford.
The Oxford Union is an independent debating society that operates separately from the university, but the controversy has reignited debate on the responsibilities of student leaders and the limits of online speech. The Union’s statement condemned the reported messages while also noting the society’s historic role in hosting diverse and often contentious speakers.
Organisers and speakers who had been due to appear at the Union said they were reassessing engagements in light of the posts. The Trust’s honorary secretary cited the reported messages as the reason for resignation; the Trust oversees the buildings and venue hire for the Union.
University and Union officials did not announce any disciplinary measures in the initial responses. Abaraonye’s apology and acknowledgement that his reaction had been "impulsive" were reported to student outlets as the immediate response to the controversy. The situation remains fluid as event organisers, Trust officials and Union members weigh next steps and whether further action will be taken.