The elected president of the prestigious Oxford Union has lost a crucial appeal against his removal, a dramatic fall from grace triggered by his online celebration of the shooting of American influencer Charlie Kirk.
A Controversial Social Media Post
George Abaraonye, a 20-year-old student, was voted out last month following a significant outcry over his conduct. The furore began on the evening of September 10th when he posted a message on social media that read: 'Charlie Kirk got shot, let's f***ing go' – a phrase commonly used by Generation Z to express celebration.
Although he later deleted the message and claimed he was unaware that the US commentator had actually died when he posted it, the damage was done. The post sparked immediate controversy, leading to a formal vote of no confidence among the Union's members.
The Vote and the Failed Appeal
In that decisive vote, more than 1,000 members of the historic debating society voted against him, resulting in his ousting. Mr Abaraonye vowed to fight the result, alleging that the vote had been 'compromised' due to insecure handling of proxy votes – a claim the Oxford Union firmly denies.
Yesterday, the Union’s disciplinary committee delivered its verdict. It stated it was 'not satisfied' that the original vote was 'unsafe', thereby rejecting his appeal for a re-count or a new poll. In a farcical twist, it is understood that Mr Abaraonye retains the right to one further appeal and will remain in his position as president-elect until he decides on his next move.
Reactions and Repercussions
The decision was welcomed by Blake Neff, a former podcast collaborator of Charlie Kirk, who posted on X: ‘Many thanks to all the members of the Union around the world who stepped up to make this happen!’
Interestingly, the no-confidence vote was initially triggered by Mr Abaraonye himself in an unusual attempt to reclaim 'true accountability' and secure his position with renewed legitimacy. In a YouTube interview, he argued he had been 'misrepresented' by the media, admitting, ‘I reacted poorly, I reacted very quickly. At the time I didn't know anything about the situation.'
Lord Biggar, a Tory peer and Emeritus Professor of Theology at Oxford, condemned the original post, stating it 'displayed a horrifically casual attitude to political violence' that was completely at odds with the liberal values of the Oxford Union. He added that Mr Abaraonye's subsequent fight to save his skin only underscored his unfitness for the role.
In contrast, a spokesman for Mr Abaraonye maintained that the student was 'proud and thankful to have the support of well in excess of a majority of students at Oxford.' The 200-year-old Oxford Union, a famous debating society for students and alumni, operates independently from the university's management. Both Mr Abaraonye and the Oxford Union have been contacted for further comment.
