An Adelaide high school teacher has been ‘removed’ from his school, after allegedly dressing as assassinated American conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at a staff Halloween party.
Urrbrae Agricultural High School design and technology coordinator, Guy Harrison, reportedly wore a bloodied shirt and a fake bullet wound to impersonate Kirk, who was shot dead during a live debate in Utah in September.
The controversial costume was worn at a staff-only event on October 31.
Principal Todd George said Harrison had been ‘removed from campus’ pending an investigation, describing the outfit as ‘completely unacceptable’ in a letter sent to parents on Thursday.
‘I have apologised to parents and reiterated this was totally unacceptable,’ Mr George said, adding that wellbeing support had been offered to students that were aware of the incident.
The Education Department said the letter to parents mirrored George’s statement and declined to comment on why it took six days for families to be informed.
When contacted via his education email, an automatic response from Mr Harrison reads: ‘I am currently on leave.’
Guy Harrison (pictured) was ‘removed from campus’ after allegedly dressing like Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk, 31, was the founder of conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA and rose to prominence during Donald Trump’s first presidential campaign.
His alleged killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested after a 33-hour manhunt and charged with aggravated murder. The FBI investigation remains ongoing.
The costume has divided the school community. Some parents expressed outrage, while others dismissed the reaction as excessive.
‘He’s a favourite teacher. Teachers are just normal people. Why are we letting a minority, not even in Australia, dictate what’s offensive?’ a parent told 7News.
Mother Gemma Wilkinson, whose Year 11 daughter was taught by Harrison, said she only learned of the incident through media reports.
‘He probably should know better,’ she said, ‘but it could be worse. I don’t feel like it’s a sackable offence, but it should be addressed, definitely,’ she told The Advertiser.
The school confirmed Harrison was instructed to cover up and leave campus immediately after the costume was discovered.
Mr Harrison remains on leave while the investigation continues.
Mr Harrison’s costume divided the community, with some calling the response an overreaction
The incident comes just days after the president of a suburban West Australian footy club was issued with a $1,500 fine by the South West Football League (SWFL) for dressing as Kirk.
South Bunbury Football Club President Nicky Waite wore the fancy dress outfit to a post-season gathering, in which members of the club were celebrating the team’s SWFL Grand Final victory over Busselton.
The theme for the fancy dress party was ‘famous dead people’.
According to the ABC, the club executive, who has since apologised for the distasteful fancy dress outfit, has now been handed a fine by the league, which the SWFL added was the maximum penalty that it could issue.
‘I understand my costume may have been interpreted in ways that were not intended, especially when emotions and sensitivities are still quite fresh,’ Waite told ABC Sport.
