Student Society Future Leader Ousted Following Charlie Kirk Comments

Oxford Union debate
The activist and student leader took part in a debate at the student society in spring

The future president of the prestigious debating society has been ousted from office after losing a no-confidence vote that followed his disputed social media posts about Charlie Kirk.

The vote against George Abaraonye achieved the required two-thirds threshold to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the society.

Disputed Comments

The dispute erupted after the student reportedly posted messages on social media that appeared to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while speaking at a college in Utah.

According to reports, one social media message reportedly stated "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an extended form of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'.

The president-elect is also reported to have written in a messaging group with fellow students seeming to welcome the incident.

Election Results

The vote of confidence was conducted over the weekend, with outcomes revealed on Tuesday.

Official notices showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast in favor of removal, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.

The notice stated that the president-elect was deemed to have resigned in following the Oxford Union's rules.

Society notice
The Oxford Union announced the outcome of the confidence motion on this week

Procedural Disputes

Voting operations were temporarily halted early on the previous day after the election official was reportedly subjected to "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from multiple individuals.

In a statement, Mr Abaraonye asserted that the count had been stopped because electoral officials believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of procedural failures".

His response unequivocally denied that any person acting for the student had participated in threatening or obstructive conduct.

Ongoing Dispute

The student maintained that extremely serious issues had been submitted to the disciplinary committee and that he continued as president-elect.

His statement added that he was "proud and thankful to have the backing of well in excess of a majority of students at Oxford" who supported a "safe election and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".

Critics have said that any decision to keep him would "demonstrate internationally that the society has chosen ideology over integrity".

Conservative activist
The conservative activist was shot dead while addressing a college in September

External Reactions

On recently, Kirk's former chief of staff read out an public message to the Oxford Union on a related program podcast.

The letter criticized the society of becoming a place where "presidents of the union publicly celebrate the killing of a ideological rival".

The statement indicated that if the student were to remain in post, supporters would "personally contact every U.S. political figure who has ever graced the union's chamber and advise them against future participation".

The Oxford Union had previously criticized Mr Abaraonye's comments after the activist's killing and confirmed that concerns submitted about him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.

The president-elect had been one of several students to debate with the activist at the society in spring.

Samantha Clayton
Samantha Clayton

A passionate traveler and writer who has explored over 50 countries, sharing insights and stories to inspire wanderlust in others.