A chilling message flashed across a Union WhatsApp group: “Charlie got shot, let’s f*ing go.” These were the words of George Abaraonye, recently elected President-Elect of the Oxford Union, reacting to the news of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, a prominent American activist.
The immediate fallout was swift and brutal. The Oxford Union swiftly distanced itself from Abaraonye’s statement, issuing a strong condemnation of his “reported words and sentiments.” The incident ignited a firestorm of controversy, casting a dark shadow over the prestigious institution.
Abaraonye, a 20-year-old philosophy, politics, and economics student, found himself facing a vote of no confidence and ultimately, removal from his position. He later claimed he reacted impulsively, before fully understanding the gravity of the situation, admitting he had “very little context” for his initial response.
He publicly apologized, directing his remorse specifically to Kirk’s family – his widow and two young children. “No one deserves to lose a husband, no child deserves to grow up without a father,” he stated, expressing a deep regret for his insensitive reaction to a tragic event.
Abaraonye explained his actions as a lapse in judgment, a reaction to a headline without considered thought. He acknowledged a lack of nuance and research, admitting he hadn’t paused to consider the full implications before posting. He described himself as a student still learning and prone to mistakes.
The backlash extended beyond the university walls. Abaraonye became the target of intense online abuse, bombarded with hateful and racist messages. He received threats of violence and deportation, described as “subhuman scum,” leaving him feeling profoundly frightened and triggering a mental breakdown.
He spoke of the immense pressure that came with the title of President-Elect, a position that carried weight and expectation, yet he was still, fundamentally, a 20-year-old navigating the complexities of university life. The experience, he said, highlighted the vulnerability of youth and the consequences of unchecked reactions.
The shooting itself has been met with widespread grief and a renewed focus on the increasingly polarized political landscape. A memorial service was held for Kirk, attended by figures like former President Donald Trump, who hailed Kirk as a “martyr for American freedom” and vowed to continue his work.
