The Oxford Union says its newly elected president will face disciplinary action after posting messages that appeared to celebrate the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
George Abaroni, an Oxford student elected president of the famous debating society in June, reportedly shared multiple comments in a WhatsApp group that seemed to cheer Kirk’s killing. According to The Telegraph, one of the messages read, “Charlie Kirk has been shot, let’s go.” Another, allegedly from his Instagram account, said: “Charlie Kirk has been shot.”
The Union said Abaroni has since faced racial abuse and threats after his remarks became public last Thursday. In a statement posted on social media Saturday, the Union condemned both his “inappropriate remarks” and the racist backlash directed at him.
“These were his personal views, not the Union’s,” the statement read. “We strongly condemn the racial abuse and threats directed at George. No one should be attacked because of their skin colour or background. The threats to his life are abhorrent.”
The Union added that while it supports free speech, “freedom of expression cannot and will not come at the expense of violence, threats, or hate.” It clarified that it cannot remove an elected president, but confirmed that formal complaints have been referred to its disciplinary committee.
Abaroni later issued an apology, saying his reaction was an “emotional response” to the news. He admitted the comments did not reflect his values and said he deleted them once Kirk’s death was confirmed.
“No one deserves to be the victim of political violence,” he said. “I extend my condolences to his family and loved ones.”
He added, however, that his reaction came in the context of Kirk’s own rhetoric. He cited Kirk’s past statements, including remarks dismissing U.S. school shooting victims as the “cost” of protecting gun rights, blaming Palestinian civilians for their own deaths in Gaza, calling for the repeal of the Civil Rights Act, and spreading harmful stereotypes about LGBTQ and trans communities.
Kirk and Abaroni had briefly met in May during an Oxford Union debate on toxic masculinity. Following the shooting, former U.S. President Donald Trump described Kirk as a “martyr for truth and freedom.”
Valerie Amos, master of University College, where Abaroni studies, said the college would not take disciplinary action. She called his comments “abhorrent” but said they did not violate college policies on free expression.
