Candace Owens, a prominent figure among Black conservatives in the United States, has recently made headlines following her departure from the conservative news channel, Daily Wire, after a highly publicized feud with its founder, Ben Shapiro.
Owens gained prominence after her involvement in the failed launch of Social Autopsy, a digital tool aimed at combating cyberbullying. Despite facing criticism and concerns about privacy issues, Owens transitioned to become a vocal conservative commentator, aligning herself with positions against feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and what she terms “common sense.”
Her tenure at Daily Wire saw Owens voicing controversial opinions, including equating opponents of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill to pedophiles, defending Russia’s actions after the invasion of Ukraine, and opposing the Black Lives Matter movement.
However, tensions between Owens and Shapiro reached a boiling point during the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Palestine. Following a brutal attack by Hamas targeting Israeli civilians, Israel launched a widespread military offensive that resulted in civilian casualties in Palestinian territories.
Owens criticized Israel’s response, stating that no country should have the right to commit genocide. Shapiro, viewing Owens’ comments as anti-Semitic, publicly condemned her stance. In response, Owens escalated the feud by making inflammatory remarks, including praising Hitler, defending Kanye West’s anti-Semitic comments, and spreading conspiracy theories about “secret Jewish gangs.”
The public exchange of insults between Owens and Shapiro led to a significant rift within Daily Wire, prompting the channel’s CEO, Jeremy Boreing, to announce Owens’ departure. Owens confirmed the news on her social media accounts, stating that she feels “finally free” and announcing plans to relaunch her show on YouTube after a brief hiatus.
While the feud between Owens and Daily Wire appears to have reached a temporary resolution, the potential for further conflict remains if Owens successfully builds her own audience on YouTube. The clash between these two conservative figures underscores the polarization within the conservative movement and the challenges of navigating complex political issues in a divisive media landscape.
