The Oxford University student who appeared to celebrate Charlie Kirk's death has addressed calls for his resignation ahead of a crunch confidence vote.
Oxford Union president-elect George Abaraonye, 20, had appeared to send a celebratory message to a WhatsApp group chat after the news emerged that Mr Kirk had been shot during an event at Utah Valley University.
The leaked messages showed Mr Abaraonye writing: “Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f****** go".
A separate message, believed to be from his Instagram account, read: “Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - an elongated version of the "laugh out loud" acronym.
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Now, just days ahead of a crunch vote of no confidence, the 20-year-old has issued a defiant statement following calls for him to resign.
Speaking to the What's Left? podcast, Mr Abaraonye said: "There have been many calls on both sides - some have called for my resignation.
"Some - many - have called for me to stay.
"At the end of the day, I’m at the behest of the [Oxford Union] membership. If the membership want to see me continue, then I would love to continue.
George Abaraonye gave a defiant interview to the What's Left? podcast ahead of a crunch confidence vote
|WHAT'S LEFT?
"I’d be gutted if I couldn’t carry on," he told hosts Jovan Owusu-Nepaul and Freddie Feltham.
"I think it would a massive loss for me - for a lot of people - to see that capitulation to online pressure."
He also labelled scrutiny from public figures like Elon Musk and Liz Truss "insane", and accused right-wingers of "weaponising cancel culture".
"The first couple of days [after news of his remarks came to light] were so difficult," he said. "Suddenly, you’re hated. I had people hurling abuse at me, people turning up at my parents' shop.
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George Abaraonye had appeared to celebrate Charlie Kirk's death
|GETTY
"I was low-key scared to leave the house for days on end. It’s really difficult."
He went on to vow: "I don’t want this to be the end of me... I had big aspirations of wanting to improve the world around me."
So far, 150 Oxford Union members have signed a motion triggering a vote of no confidence in Mr Abaraonye.
A vote is now set to take place this weekend, with all Oxford Union members eligible to vote.
PICTURED: George Abaraonye in a debate with Charlie Kirk in May 2025
|OXFORD UNION
Turning Point UK, the British offshoot of the organisation Charlie Kirk founded, said: "We advise the Oxford Union to make the right decision.
"If Mr Abaraonye remains as the new president, we will be forced to begin a direct action campaign against the Oxford Union.
"It took us nine protests to permanently shut down an inappropriate drag queen story hour in 2023. We reckon it'd take us less than five to shut down the Oxford Union.
"There must be consequences for those for celebrate and call for our deaths."
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