A high school teacher in Adelaide has been removed from his campus after his Halloween costume, depicting the assassinated American podcaster Charlie Kirk, sparked a formal investigation and divided the school community.
Costume Details and Immediate Fallout
Guy Harrison, the Design and Technology coordinator at Urrbrae Agricultural High School, attended a staff Halloween event on October 31 wearing a bloodied shirt and a fake bullet wound, portraying the late Charlie Kirk.
Principal Todd George confirmed in a letter to parents that Harrison was "removed from campus" pending an investigation, labelling the costume "completely unacceptable." Despite a state-wide mobile phone ban in schools, students photographed Harrison posing with actual pictures of the slain conservative activist.
Community Reaction and Growing Petition
In the hours following his removal, a petition calling for Harrison's reinstatement appeared online, quickly gathering nearly 700 signatures from parents and students.
The petition organisers expressed they were "deeply concerned about the treatment he is receiving and the implications of this investigation." Comments on the petition described Harrison as a "well-liked" and "good teacher" who made a "questionable choice."
One parent commented, "As a parent I’m way more concerned that children were able to view and share the actual assassination incident during school hours on their mobile devices than a well-respected teacher making a questionable choice of costume."
Another added, "A private conversation with the teacher and perhaps a general chat with students would have been more than enough to show leadership."
Teacher's Response and Wider Context
Contacted by 7NEWS.com.au, Harrison stated he was on leave and believed he had a "more nuanced version" of events but was unable to comment at this time.
The incident echoes a recent controversy in the United States where a group of STEM teachers wore bloodied shirts, initially assumed to be mocking Kirk's death. The Vail School District superintendent later clarified the shirts were part of a maths-themed Halloween costume.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during a live event at Utah Valley University in September. His alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested after a 33-hour manhunt.
Urrbrae Agricultural High School has stated that counselling services are available for any students affected by the incident.
