Student Society President-Elect Ousted Following Charlie Kirk Posts

Student society event
Charlie Kirk and George Abaraonye participated in a discussion at the Oxford Union in spring

The future president of the prestigious debating society has been removed from his position after failing a no-confidence vote that came after his disputed online comments about Charlie Kirk.

The vote against the student leader achieved the necessary two-thirds threshold to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the society.

Contentious Posts

The controversy began after the student reportedly shared messages on social media that appeared to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while addressing a university in the United States.

According to sources, one Instagram post reportedly read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an elongated version of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'.

The student leader is also reported to have posted in a messaging group with other members appearing to welcome the incident.

Vote Outcome

The no-confidence motion took place over the recent days, with outcomes revealed on Tuesday.

Official notices indicated that 1,228 ballots were cast supporting removal, while 501 were against the motion.

The announcement confirmed that the president-elect was considered to have stepped down 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 informally suspended early on the previous day after the returning officer was reportedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from multiple individuals.

In a statement, the student claimed 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 appointed by George had participated in threatening or obstructive conduct.

Continuing Controversy

The student maintained that significant concerns had been submitted to the governing body and that he continued as president-elect.

His comment added that he was "grateful and honored to have the backing of significantly more than half of students at Oxford" who supported a "secure voting process and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".

Opponents have said that any failure to remove him would "signal to the world that the society has prioritized politics over principles".

Conservative activist
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while addressing a college in September

External Responses

On Friday, Kirk's former chief of staff presented an public message to the Oxford Union on a related program broadcast.

The message criticized the society of becoming a place where "student leaders publicly celebrate the assassination of a political opponent".

The communication warned that if the student were to remain in post, Kirk's allies would "personally contact every U.S. political figure who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".

The society had earlier condemned Mr Abaraonye's remarks after the activist's killing and stated that complaints filed against him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.

The student leader had been one of multiple members to discuss with the activist at the union in spring.

Kristy Carlson
Kristy Carlson

A healthcare professional with over 15 years of experience in Canadian medical systems, passionate about patient education and wellness advocacy.