Oxford Union Leader's Apology After Controversial Death Comments
The president-elect of the prestigious Oxford Union has issued a public apology to the family of Charlie Kirk, a far-right American activist, for comments he made that appeared to celebrate Kirk's death. George Abaraonye, a 20-year-old student, found himself at the centre of a major controversy after his private messages were revealed.
The Controversial Messages and Swift Backlash
Shortly after news broke in September that Charlie Kirk had been shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in the US, Abaraonye posted in an Oxford Union WhatsApp group, 'Charlie got shot, let's f***ing go'. He also sent a message on Instagram that read, 'Charlie Kirk got shot loool'.
The two had a history, having engaged in a fiery debate at the Oxford Union just four months earlier in May, where they discussed contentious topics including marriage, abortion, and masculinity.
The Oxford Union society was quick to distance itself from its president-elect's statements, releasing a declaration that it 'unequivocally condemn the reported words and sentiments expressed by the President-Elect'. The fallout was rapid, and Abaraonye, who was studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, was ousted from his position after a vote of no confidence.
A Public Apology and Explanation
In an interview with The Times, Abaraonye addressed the incident and offered a direct apology to Kirk's widow and two children. He stated that his comments were made before he had seen footage of the shooting and that he had 'very little context for what [he] was reacting to' at the time.
'I want to offer my apologies and my condolences,' Abaraonye said. 'No one deserves to lose a husband, no child deserves to grow up without a father. I hope that they are able, in some capacity, to move on from what was a tragic event and to that end, I am very sorry.'
He admitted that he 'reacted without nuance and without having done research', seeing only a headline before posting his initial reaction online.
Online Abuse and Personal Consequences
The controversy did not end with his removal from the Union. Abaraonye became the target of significant online abuse after his comments made headlines and were condemned by public figures like Piers Morgan and Elon Musk.
He revealed he was sent racist messages describing him as 'subhuman scum' and suggesting he should be 'deported' and 'shot'. This torrent of abuse left him feeling 'really scared' and contributed to a mental breakdown.
Reflecting on the intense scrutiny, Abaraonye emphasised his youth, telling The Times, 'The title of the president-elect of the Oxford Union holds grandeur, but that president-elect of the Oxford Union is still just a 20-year-old student at university.' He expressed that he felt he was still learning and developing and was not immune to making mistakes.
Meanwhile, the suspect in the shooting, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, remains held at a Utah jail.
