The Oxford Union is facing a growing backlash after its incoming president made gloating remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Prestigious speakers have cancelled forthcoming appearances at the historic debating society in protest at George Abaraonye.
Mr Abaraonye, who debated Kirk at the Oxford Union in May and is poised to take up his post as president, apparently wrote ‘Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f***ing go’. And in another message, said to have been posted on Instagram, he wrote: ‘Charlie Kirk got shot loool’.
Yesterday millionaire entrepreneur Josh Wolfe, co-founder of New York venture capitalists Lux Capital, pulled out of an invitation to speak at the Oxford Union.
He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘I was invited to speak on tech and VC [venture capitalism] at the Oxford Union, a historically prestigious venue dating to 1823.
‘I have withdrawn and declined.’
Mr Wolfe said he would stay away ‘until cultural leadership from the top celebrates peace and coexistence and civil discourse and denounces violence’.
The incoming president of the Oxford Union George Abaraonye debates American conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an event in May
Kirk was struck in the neck by a single bullet while speaking about mass shootings at a university campus in Utah. He is pictured at the event on Wednesday before his death
One of the messages that was allegedly sent by Abaraonye shortly after Kirk’s death
Another international speaker, Liora Rez, executive director at US campaign group StopAntisemitism, also cancelled. The organisation posted on X: ‘Our Executive Director was recently invited to debate at Oxford Union. Until George Abraraonye steps down/is removed, StopAntisemitism employees will not be engaging with your debate society due to safety concerns and your president-elect’s pro-violent stance.’
It added: ‘We urge all other participants to follow suit.’
Even the Oxford Union itself – under its outgoing leadership – condemned its own incoming president, a post previously held by the likes of Boris Johnson and Tony Blair.
In an unprecedented move, the union said it ‘would like to unequivocally condemn the reported words and sentiments expressed by the president-elect. His reported views do not represent the Oxford Union’s current leadership or committee’s view.’
It added that its current leadership had ‘no association with, and is entirely independent from’ Mr Abaraonye, and shared its condolences with Kirk’s family, adding: ‘We reaffirm our stance that the Oxford Union firmly opposes all forms of political violence and strongly stands by our commitment to free speech and considerate debate.’
Entrepreneur Josh Wolfe, co-founder of New York venture capitalists Lux Capital
Liora Rez, executive director at US campaign group StopAntisemitism
The University of Oxford, which is not responsible for the union, said: ‘The Oxford Union is independent of the University. We deplore comments appearing to endorse violence – they are unacceptable and entirely contrary to the values of our community.’
And Claire Coutinho, the Conservatives’ shadow minister for women and equalities, tweeted: ‘Where is the belief in free speech, the tolerance for opinions, the empathy?’
In response to the backlash, Mr Abaraonye explained to the student newspaper Cherwell that he ‘received the shocking news about a shooting at Charlie Kirk’s event’ and ‘in that moment of shock, I reacted impulsively and made comments prior to Charlie being pronounced dead that I quickly deleted upon learning of his passing. Those words did not reflect my values.’
He added: ‘To be clear: nobody deserves to be the victim of political violence. Nobody should be harmed or killed for the views they hold. I may have disagreed strongly with Mr Kirk’s politics, but in death we all deserve respect, and I extend my condolences to his family and loved ones.’
He said: ‘At the same time, my reaction was shaped by the context of Mr. Kirk’s own rhetoric – words that often dismissed or mocked the suffering of others. He described the deaths of American children from school shootings as an acceptable “cost” of protecting gun rights.’
Charlie Kirk speaks to Abaraonye during a debate on ‘toxic masculinity’ at the Oxford Union
President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death on Truth Social nearly five hours after the shooting, offering his sympathies to his wife and family
Kirk was struck in the neck by a single bullet while speaking about mass shootings at a university campus in Utah yesterday.
The married father-of-two was rushed to hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries.
A manhunt is still ongoing for the shooter, who was described as a male of college age – with officials saying on Thursday they had video footage of the individual.
They said a high-powered bolt-action rifle was recovered from a wooded area nearby after the shooter jumped from the roof and fled the scene.
President Trump was quick to express his sadness at the tragedy, calling Kirk a ‘martyr for truth and freedom’.
‘Charlie was the best of America and the monster who was attacking him was attacking our whole country,’ he said, before ordering flags on US government buildings to be lowered to half-mast, including three at the White House.
He added in another post: ‘The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.
‘He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!’
Charlie Kirk speaks before he is shot during Turning Point’s visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday
While Kirk’s assassination sparked an outpouring of tributes, it has also led to accusations that the Left are using his death to score political points because of his strong opinions.
Left-wing writer Nels Abbey sparked outrage after comparing the activist to David Duke, the former leader of the Ku Klux Klan during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Thursday.
The BBC has also come under fire over its ‘distasteful’ coverage of the killing after inviting Democratic strategist Joi Chaney onto the panel, who stunned audiences when she said Mr Kirk ‘wasn’t admired and loved by all’.
Another post which sparked a backlash was from left-wing activist Femi Oluwole, who said: ‘The same people who spent the last two years telling us to treat the murder of 80,000 in Gaza as an acceptable and justified loss are about to get real precious about the sanctity of one human life.’
An Oxford University spokesperson said: ‘The Oxford Union is independent of the University. We deplore comments appearing to endorse violence — they are unacceptable and entirely contrary to the values of our community.’
The Oxford Union said in a statement: ‘The Oxford Union would like to unequivocally condemn the reported words and sentiments expressed by the President-Elect, George Abaraonye, with regards to the passing of Charlie Kirk.
‘His reported views do not represent the Oxford Union’s current leadership or committee’s view. The current administration has, under President Moosa Harraj, no association with, and is entirely independent from Mr Abaraonye’s administration.
‘In alignment with the statement published by out society earlier today, we reaffirm our stance that the Oxford Union firmly opposes all forms of political violence and strongly stands by our commitment to free speech and considerate debate.
‘We would like to reiterate that our condolences lie with Charlie Kirk’s family, especially his wife and young children, who are enduring such terrible grief.’
