A student at the University of Oxford has been criticised for his “insensitive” WhatsApp messages in response to Charlie Kirk being shot.
George Abaraonye is the president-elect of the Oxford Union, a 200-year-old debating society for University of Oxford students. He debated with Charlie Kirk at an event in May 2025.
The Tab has seen screenshots of messages in a WhatsApp group chat for students. One message, seemingly from George, says “CHARLIE KIRK GOT SHOT LET’S F*CKING GO” and includes the prayer emoji. He appears to have also written “SCOREBOARD FN”. When another student wrote, “lmfao he’s pr guns”, George seemingly responded, “It really writes itself, doesn’t it.” Many other messages from this account were quickly deleted.
Other students in the chat had rather mixed reactions to these comments. One replied: “How are you celebrating someone getting shot?” Another added, “You may have just started WW3 with this.”
The Tab has also seen a note on George’s Instagram saying: “Charlie Kirk got shot loool.” The same Instagram account shared pictures of news articles about the shooting, and added “SCOREBOARD FN WE ARE SO UP RN”. The account also posted a Family Guy meme, that read “Hello, We’re Back Department, I’d like to file a claim.”
George Abaraonye has now issued a statement to The Oxford Student about his reactions. He wrote: “Last night I received the shocking news about a shooting at Charlie Kirk’s event. 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 explained that he is against political violence and his “reaction was shaped by the context of Mr. Kirk’s own rhetoric”. He continued: “My reaction was not a call for violence, but a raw, unprocessed response to what felt like a painful irony.”
George shared that following these messages, he experienced “racist comments and a myriad of threats and discrimination”. He concluded: “It is right to call out my insensitivity, but the same scrutiny must be applied to rhetoric that has caused real harm and continues to do so.”
George Abaraonye met Charlie Kirk at an Oxford Union event in May 2025. They debated about “toxic masculinity”. Charlie Kirk shared his opinion that “morale is weaker” in the West as “it’s become more feminine”. George disagreed with this.
The Oxford Union has blasted George Abaraonye for the initial messages. Their statement says: “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.”
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The Oxford Union reiterated it “firmly opposes all forms of political violence”.
A spokesperson for the University of Oxford 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.”
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Featured image credit: Oxford Union / YouTube.
