The president-elect of the Oxford Union, George Abaraonye, has issued an apology to the family of political activist Charlie Kirk following his controversial remarks that appeared to celebrate Kirk’s assassination. Abaraonye’s comments came in the wake of Kirk’s murder at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2023, leading to his resignation from the prestigious debate society.
In a statement released on October 21, 2023, Abaraonye expressed regret for his earlier remarks, stating, “I want to offer my apologies and my condolences. No one deserves to lose a husband, no child deserves to grow up without a father.” He directed this heartfelt message to Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, and their two children. According to The Times, Abaraonye hoped they could find a path to healing after what he described as a “tragic event.”
Shortly after the shooting, Abaraonye posted on social media, seemingly celebrating the incident. He wrote, “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f–king go,” on WhatsApp and followed up with “Charlie Kirk got shot loool” on Instagram. He later claimed that he lacked context at the time of his comments, asserting, “I had very little context for what I was reacting to, but I wanted to start a conversation … I missed the mark … and that’s why I deleted and retracted my comments.”
Abaraonye faced significant backlash for his statements, resulting in a vote of no confidence against him on October 21, 2023. Following the vote, which passed with 1,228 votes in favor and 501 against, he was officially removed from his position. He acknowledged his failure to fully understand the situation before reacting, stating, “I reacted without nuance and without having done research.”
Prior to his resignation, Abaraonye had a notable encounter with Kirk during a debate at Oxford in May 2023. The discussion revolved around issues affecting young men in contemporary society, including topics such as the “infantilization of young men” and “toxic femininity.” Abaraonye had challenged Kirk’s views, sparking a lively exchange at the event.
In the aftermath of Kirk’s death, the suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, was apprehended and charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice.
On Thanksgiving, Erika Kirk shared her sentiments about her late husband, reflecting on their life together and expressing gratitude despite her profound loss. “God blessed me with being married to the love of my life, with our beautiful babies, with our family and friends, and with people from all over the world who have sent us letters, toys, artwork, and Bibles,” she wrote.
The events surrounding Kirk’s assassination and Abaraonye’s comments have sparked discussions about the responsibilities of public figures and the impact of social media on sensitive topics. As the Oxford Union grapples with the fallout from this incident, it highlights the need for thoughtful discourse in the wake of tragedy.
