Formerly Elected University Student President Apologizes to Charlie Kirk's Family for Celebrating Assassination

George Abaraonye, the former Oxford Union president-elect removed from his position due to comments perceived as celebrating the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, issued a formal apology to Kirks family on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) student faced a vote of no confidence last month after messages from a Union WhatsApp group surfaced. In these messages, he wrote shortly after Kirks death at Utah Valley University on September 10: Charlie got shot, lets f*cking go. He also shared on Instagram: Charlie Kirk got shot loool.

The remarks, which came just months after Kirk and Abaraonye debated topics including marriage, abortion, and masculinity at the Oxford Union, caused widespread outrage and led the Union to publicly distance itself, stating it unequivocally condemns the reported words and sentiments expressed by the President-Elect.

Abaraonye told The Times that he made the comments with very little context for what [he] was reacting to and offered another apology on Friday, specifically addressing Kirks widow Erika and their two children. I want to offer my apologies and my condolences, he said. No one deserves to lose a husband, no child deserves to grow up without a father I am very sorry.

In an interview with British media outlet LBC, Abaraonye explained to host Lewis Goodall that he accepted fair criticism but also experienced threats of violence as a consequence of his posts. We can also be fair in calling out what has also been a lot of just racist and classist vitriol based on the fact that I am a Black person, the fact that Im a student at Oxford we can be deliberate in splitting apart the two things, he said.

He continued, I received threats of violence. My family did, my friends did and it was a very difficult time, not just for me, but also realizing that my mistake has not only impacted my life but could impact other peoples lives and impact even just broader communities around me. Abaraonye added that the backlash left him really scared and contributed to a mental health breakdown.

Author: Sophia Brooks