George Abaraonye, 20, issued an apology on Friday to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and the couple’s two children for what he said online shortly after the Turning Point USA founder was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. “I want to offer my apologies and my condolences. No one deserves to lose a husband, no child deserves to grow up without a father. I hope that they are able, in some capacity, to move on from what was a tragic event and to that end, I am very sorry,” Abaraonye said, per The Times.
Abaraonye, who had been leading the institution established in 1823, openly celebrated news of the 31-year-old political activist’s death. He claimed that when the incident took place, he had “little context” when he celebrated the killing.
"Charlie Kirk got shot, let’s f*cking go,” he posted on WhatsApp after Kirk was shot.
“Charlie Kirk got shot loool,” he added to an Instagram story. He later claimed these posts were made before video from the Sept. 13 incident circulated widely and before he had any meaningful understanding of the situation.
“I had very little context for what I was reacting to, but I wanted to start a conversation … I missed the mark … and that’s why I deleted and retracted my comments,” he told the outlet. “As soon as I saw how serious it was, I went on Instagram to apologize.”
His comments triggered swift criticism, leading members to strip him of the presidency following a no-confidence vote held on Oct. 21.“I reacted without nuance and without having done research,” he told reporters. “I saw a headline and I reacted. I didn’t take into account the nuance or consider that at all when I made the comments.” The Union formalized his resignation after a 1,228–501 vote on Nov. 24.
Abaraonye, a third-year student studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, had previously debated Kirk during the commentator’s visit to Oxford in May. At the time, he dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt to debate Kirk.
During the exchange, Abaraonye pressed Kirk to expand on his argument that modern cultural forces are harming young men by suppressing traditional expressions of masculinity. “It’s a very good faith question, thank you,” Kirk responded as the two debated from opposing podiums.
They clashed over themes such as the “infantilization of young men” as well as “toxic femininity,” which Abaraonye argued stem from an “oppressive system.”
Tyler Robinson, the man charged with murdering Kirk, was apprehended days after the shooting and is now facing the death penalty in Utah. Kirk was speaking to students at Utah Valley University when he was shot and killed.
