In a striking irony, George Abaraonye, the president-elect of the Oxford Union — the prestigious student debating society known for championing integrity, respect, and civil debate — has faced intense backlash and was ultimately removed from his leadership position following the hateful comments he made about the fatal shooting of the prominent political influencer Charlie Kirk. Shortly after Kirk was murdered by a sniper on a Utah college campus, Abaraonye posted celebratory messages on social media, including “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f****** go” and “Charlie Kirk got shot loool”
Founded in 1823, the Oxford Union was created as a space for debate at a time when the University of Oxford restricted student discussions on controversial topics. Independent and student-led, the Oxford Union has drawn legendary figures like Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill to its debating chamber. Its independence has allowed it to cultivate a tradition of bold discourse and historic encounters, making it one of the most famous debate platforms for free speech in the world.
Abaraonye’s comments not only violated the Oxford Union’s ethos of respectful discourse and intellectual integrity but also cast a dark shadow over an institution long celebrated for its distinguished legacy. What was once a symbol of principled debate now finds itself mired in controversy — raising questions about the standards upheld by its leadership.
The intensity of his language suggests that personal grievance, rather than principled analysis, may have fueled his response.
It is difficult to understand Abaraonye’s motivation for such hateful rhetoric, but the tenor of his statements hints at underlying envy and resentment. The intensity of his language suggests that personal grievance, rather than principled analysis, may have fueled his response. (RELATED: Charlie Kirk Must Now Be Made Immortal)
During a widely watched Oxford Union debate on “toxic masculinity” last May between Kirk and Abaraonye, Kirk’s argument focused on the cultural and educational forces he claimed were “infantilizing men” and promoting a hyper-feminized society. In contrast, Abaraonye challenged Kirk’s views by highlighting systemic inequalities and the evolving definitions of masculinity. Although the debate did not have an officially declared winner, reports and commentary on the debate suggested that Kirk — the far more seasoned debater — delivered the more compelling argument, reinforced with data-driven points and impassioned delivery. (RELATED: Charlie Kirk: The Last Debater)
Initially following Abaraonye’s hateful comments about Kirk’s death, Baroness Amos, the master of University College, Oxford, appeared to condone the vile rhetoric from Abaraonye by saying that no disciplinary action would be taken against him after he sent his vitriolic messages. Claiming that “Although Mr. Abaraonye’s comments are abhorrent, they do not contravene the college’s policies on free speech, or any other relevant policy. Therefore no disciplinary action will be taken.” (RELATED: Is Britain Becoming North Korea?)
In contrast, James Price, a former Oxford Union president and ex-Treasury adviser, told reporters that he had resigned from his role as honorary secretary of the Oxford Literary Debating & Union Trust — the charity that owns the Oxford Union’s buildings — over the comments. In a letter to the union on Friday, Mr. Price warned that failure to oust Mr. Abaraonye would cause irreparable damage to the debating society’s reputation.
To be fair, Abaraonye was far from alone in mocking the death of Charlie Kirk — his remarks echoed a broader wave of online mockery that surfaced in the hours following the news. Several staff members at the streaming TMZ live were caught on camera laughing and appearing to celebrate the assassination during a livestream. Viewers noticed the clapping and audible laughter moments before TMZ’s leader, Harvey Levin, announced Kirk’s death on air. And although TMZ later issued a public apology, claiming that the noise came from employees in another part of the building who were reacting to a car chase video, not the news of Kirk’s death. They acknowledged that the timing was deeply inappropriate. Commenters on the TMZ site, and other streaming sites, dispute the “car chase” excuse — claiming that there was no car chase going on when the announcement of Charlie Kirk’s death was made.
We may never know the truth about TMZ — but that really does not matter. The controversy surrounding Abaraonye’s remarks and removal from the presidency of the Oxford Union is more than a personal scandal. It is a cautionary tale about the fragility of institutional integrity in an age of carelessness. When the president-elect of an institution dedicated to free speech so thoroughly abandons its principles for envious rage, the damage ripples far beyond that individual. The Oxford Union, once a sanctuary for respectful dissent, must now reckon with the irony of its own undoing.
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