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Students affiliated with the esteemed Oxford University Union have been accused of ridiculing the death of Charlie Kirk and attempting to suppress dissenting opinions.
A series of new messages, revealed in The Spectator, allegedly show that students took part in celebrating the conservative US influencer’s death.
Those who did not agree claim they were ‘intimidated into silence’, it was reported.
In WhatsApp groups for both incoming and existing students interested in joining the debating society, one participant reportedly commented that Mr. Kirk is ‘looking up at us now,’ accompanied by a smiley face emoji, suggesting he had gone to hell.
Another member of the group was said to have declared that they did not ‘feel bad’ for his grieving widow, Erika Kirk.
It was alleged that a student expressed support for political violence by writing that they could ‘only hope that some of the more cowardly f*****s get scared’.
The Oxford Union has been under increasing scrutiny after its incoming president, George Abaraonye, 20, made harsh remarks applauding Kirk’s assassination.
In one WhatsApp chat to fellow students Mr Abaraonye wrote ‘Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f****** go’.
He has since deleted the messages and apologised, saying that his words ‘were no less insensitive than Charlie Kirk’s.’
Student group chats connected to the prestigious Oxford Union reportedly contained multiple disgraceful messages shared following Kirk’s death on September 10. Pictured: Charlie Kirk (left) debates George Abaraonye (right) at the Oxford Union in May 2025.
A source reportedly compared the alarming student group chat to a ‘lynch mob against any conservative thought,’ and mentioned they are considering withdrawing their Union membership as a consequence.
Others also told the publication of their fears regarding personal safety if their identity were to be revealed given the shocking nature of the messages shared.
Following Mr Abaraonye’s comments, prestigious speakers have cancelled their forthcoming appearances at the historic debating society in protest.
Last week, millionaire entrepreneur Josh Wolfe, co-founder of New York venture capitalists Lux Capital, pulled out of an invitation to speak at the Oxford Union.
He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘I was invited to speak on tech and VC [venture capitalism] at the Oxford Union, a historically prestigious venue dating to 1823.
‘I have withdrawn and declined.’
Mr Wolfe said he would stay away ‘until cultural leadership from the top celebrates peace and coexistence and civil discourse and denounces violence’.
The Oxford Union itself – under its outgoing leadership – condemned its own incoming president, a post previously held by the likes of Boris Johnson and Tony Blair.
Shameful messages implied Kirk would be in hell, while another allegedly commented about how he would celebrate Tommy Robinson’s death. It comes after the Oxford Union’s incoming president, George Abaraonye (pictured), made gloating remarks about Kirk’s assassination
In an unprecedented move, the union said it ‘would like to unequivocally condemn the reported words and sentiments expressed by the president-elect. His reported views do not represent the Oxford Union’s current leadership or committee’s view.’
Although the Union clarified that it ‘does not possess executive powers to summarily dismiss a president-elect’, it confirmed that the complaints filed against Mr Abaraonye have been ‘forwarded for disciplinary proceedings and will be addressed with the utmost seriousness’.
It added that its current leadership had ‘no association with, and is entirely independent from’ Mr Abaraonye, and shared its condolences with Kirk’s family.
When approached by the Daily Mail, a University of Oxford spokesperson said: ‘The Oxford Union is independent of the University and the Students’ Union, Oxford SU.
‘We deplore reports of threats, intimidation, or comments appearing to endorse violence — such behaviour is unacceptable and entirely contrary to the values of our community.’
Describing itself as ‘the most prestigious debating society in the world’, the Oxford Union was founded in 1823 and counts historical figures including Malcolm X among those to have attended its discussions.
In response to the backlash, Mr Abaraonye explained to the student newspaper Cherwell that he ‘received the shocking news about a shooting at Charlie Kirk’s event’ and ‘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 added: ‘To be clear: nobody deserves to be the victim of political violence.
‘Nobody should be harmed or killed for the views they hold. I may have disagreed strongly with Mr Kirk’s politics, but in death we all deserve respect, and I extend my condolences to his family and loved ones.’
He said: ‘At the same time, my reaction was shaped by the context of Mr. Kirk’s own rhetoric – words that often dismissed or mocked the suffering of others. He described the deaths of American children from school shootings as an acceptable “cost” of protecting gun rights.’
Kirk was struck in the neck by a single bullet while speaking about mass shootings at a university campus in Utah on September 10.
The married father-of-two was rushed to hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries.
His suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, 22, made his first virtual court appearance from the Utah County Jail in Spanish Fork, Utah, on September 16.
The suspected shooter was raised in a strictly Republican household and was living with his transgender partner at the time of the attack. Relatives said he had become ‘more political’ in recent times.
The Oxford Union has been approached for comment about the new WhatsApp messages.
Have you seen the messages? Please email: ruth.stainer@dailymail.co.uk
