Candace Owens: Controversy, Accusations, and the Truth

Candace Owens has never been one to back down from a challenge. She frequently pushes back against, and sometimes even lashes out at, what she perceives to be threats to liberty and America’s founding values. And in recent months, she’s really cranked up that pushback to a level that has some—particularly at her former employer, The Daily Wire—wondering whether she’s gone over the edge into anti-Semitism.

Leaving The Daily Wire, strongly criticizing Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and having a very public dispute with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach have made her a lightning rod for controversy. But is there more to the story than just the headlines?

Who is Candace Owens?

If you don't know, Candace Owens, is currently one of the top right-wing American political commentators. She hosts one of the largest podcast shows in America, topping the charts on Spotify and Apple. Her newest series is averaging over 130,000+ live viewers per show, which also makes her one of the largest conservative live streamers.

From celebrity lawsuits to transgender first-ladies to the attack on the USS Liberty – Owens has helped expose and publicize huge stories.

Candace Owens rose to prominence in conservative circles when she was working as an activist for Turning Point USA with Charlie Kirk in 2017. She landed a show on PragerU and then moved over to The Daily Wire in 2020. Owens had a hugely successful show on DW for four years until she was fired for her stance on Israel and comments that were perceived as anti-Semitic.

So what's so controversial about Candace Owens, why is she still seen as a pariah among mainstream conservatives? Let's take a look at the facts.

What really happened at The Daily Wire?

Owens left The Daily Wire in March 2024, with an announcement saying the parting was mutual. But there were signs that tension had been growing for some time.

Months prior, Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro had a heated public exchange that foreshadowed a professional separation. It also became clear both Owens and Shapiro disliked each other on a personal level.

The confrontation came to a head when a video of Ben Shapiro began circulating the internet in November 2023. In it, Shapiro responded to a question about his colleague's comments (Candace) and he described her as, "absolutely disgraceful." You can watch Candace respond to these attacks in this interview with Tucker Carlson (4:27).

In response to Shapiro's rude remarks, Candace posted a Bible verse on 𝕏 about serving two masters – she was careful not to name her colleague. Shapiro felt attacked and reacted, saying, "If you feel that taking money from The Daily Wire somehow comes between you and God, by all means quit."

Owens hit back, saying, "You have been acting unprofessional and emotionally unhinged for weeks now." Candace continued with The Daily Wire for a few more months – but this heated exchange marked the beginning of the end.

Candace was unwilling to back down, she continued to speak about against the "genocide" in Gaza and publicly clashed with other Zionist figures like Rabbi Shmuley, and Rabbi Barclay.

Unfortunately, the people she debated were incredibly unlikable characters and made a mockery of the Zionist position. The arguments would quickly devolve into Rabbis accusing Candace Owens of using "anti-Semite" tropes – which failed to distract or fool the viewers – who overwhelmingly supported Owens (more on this later).

The end of Candace Owens' employment at The Daily Wire occurred at the end of March. Owens was at the height of her popularity, with many right-wing groups rallying to her support. Nick Fuentes and the Groypers were one of the groups who came to her support, which became a real problem for mainstream conservatives.

The Groypers would spam the phrase "Christ is King" on social media posts of Zionists and Jewish people like Ben Shapiro. Jewish individuals then began to claim that the phrase was an "anti-Semitic" trope. Since Jews reject the divinity of Jesus Christ and played a role in his crucifixion, this phrase sounded to them like a mockery of their beliefs and past behavior.

Daily Wire colleague, Andrew Klavan, has suggested that Candace Owens was fired because of the praise and support she received from Nick Fuentes and the Groypers. The Daily Wire claimed that this alliance was orchestrated, yet Fuentes and Owens deny this claim.

But it didn't end with Owens being fired. Days after her departure, Candace and Shapiro were back at each other's throats again! This time, Candace was asking to debate on the very issue that got her fired. Shapiro agreed, but neither could agree on a time nor date. The debate didn't materialize, and both sides claimed it was the other's fault.

Candace Owens is under an NDA and cannot speak about the details of her employment or dismissal.

The Rabbi Shmuley feud: A clash of egos?

This saga's perhaps most dramatic episode occurred when Owens went head-to-head with Rabbi Shmuley, who is a media personality and sex-author. He is also one of the most despised people on the internet, due to his vulgar antics and shape-shifting debate style.

Candace Owens was one of the people who defended Ye after he made remarks about Jewish power and influence — you remember when he said that he would go "death con 3 ON JEWISH PEOPLE."

Following the Ye drama, Rabbi Shmuley came out against Owens, accusing her of being a cover for anti-Semitism. The two went to battle on X and debated on Piers Morgan Uncensored.

Candace Owens came out on top, with most people rallying to her support. Rabbi Shmuley, on the other hand, exposed some of the most unlikable characteristics of his community and if anything, probably made some people anti-Semitic due to his antics.

At the climax of this feud, users on X started to post and comment the phrase "Christ is King" in response to Zionists and practicing Jews. Jewish-commentators like Ben Shapiro condemned the phrase as anti-Semitic and tried to bully others in the conservative community to also denounce the phase – Christians and Catholics alike.

Candace refused to condemn the phrase "Christ is King" saying that it wasn't anti-Semitic and anyone attempting to say otherwise was an enemy of Christians. She also pointed out that Christians should no longer be bullied by people who have contempt for Christ, such as practicing Jews, Hollywood, and the media.

Unfortunately, her Daily Wire colleagues and boss saw things differently. Jeremy Boreing, Andrew Klavan, and Ben Shapiro condemned the phrase "Christ is King" and even insinuated that Candace Owens was anti-Semitic. This is when Candace Owens was fired from The Daily Wire. Here's Andrew Klavan explaining how "Christ is King" is a dog whistle and used to attack Jews.

Owens vs. Netanyahu and the Israel debate

When it comes to the actions of the Israeli government, particularly Prime Minister Netanyahu, Owens hasn’t held back. Following October 7th and the brutal Israeli retaliation against Hamas which killed and displaced civilians, Candace was publicly outspoken against Israel.

She described Netanyahu as having “genocidal ambitions" and claimed that there was a holocaust happening in Gaza against the Palestinians. Candace, as a professing Catholic, has also voiced concern about Israel's treatment of Palestinian Christians.

Candace Owens appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored a number of times to speak out against Netanyahu and debate Zionists on the Gaza conflict that occurred from 2023-24.

Her stance has put her at odds with a lot of her conservative peers and mainstream conservatism as a whole. Conservative commentators and Republican politicians are by and large advocates for the state of Israel. Some truly believe that Israel is their "greatest ally," and others are simply funded and lobbied to support Zionist causes.

The conservatives that took issue with her statements included, Ben Shapiro, Dennis Prager, Andrew Klavan, John Podhoretz, Allie Beth Stuckey, Gad Saad, and Seth Dillon from the Babylon Bee. Mostly Jewish-Americans.

Is Owens really Anti-Semitic?

The most serious charge leveled against Owens is that she has anti-Semitic views. It’s a label that has followed her ever since StopAntisemitism, a group that watches over political discourse, named her "Antisemite of the Year" in 2024.

No, Candace Owens is not anti-Semitic. Despite what the ADL, SPLC or any other Jewish advocacy group may claim, criticism of Israeli actions or Jewish beliefs is not anti-Semitic.

Unfortunately, these advocacy groups use this term not to address any real hate or violence, but instead to silence and cancel individuals who disagree with their ideology. There are numerous examples of this, most recently Robert Kennedy Jr., was accused of being anti-Semitic for stating a fact which he read in a peer reviewed study.

Candace is a practicing Catholic and holds Catholic beliefs. It may surprise some people, but Catholic beliefs and behaviors often do not align with the beliefs and behaviors of other faiths, such as Judaism.

The Bigger Picture

Adore her or despise her, Candace Owens isn’t retreating. She has severed ties with a significant conservative platform, has confronted an incredibly divisive subject, and has declined to say she’s sorry. For some, that casts her as an incredibly risky figure. For others, it makes her a rare and courageous voice.

What’s clear is that her fight isn’t only about her; it’s about who gets to steer the dialogue. And in an era when even the right-wing media has its own set of sacred cows, Owens’ audacity in trampling those taboos may well make her an even bigger right-wing media star.

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