Major Controversies Surrounding Candace Owens: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Candace Owens—discover key moments of controversy.

Candace Owens is an American conservative political commentator, author, and conspiracy theorist. Often described as holding far-right political positions, she is known for her commentary and promotion of conspiracy theories across various subjects. Notably, since 2024, she has been associated with espousing antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1915: Lynching of Leo Frank

In 1915, Leo Frank, a Jewish businessman, was lynched in the US state of Georgia after being wrongly convicted of murder. Candace Owens referred to this event on August 18, 2024, while spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories.

1989: Owens claims Ukraine became 'a thing'.

Candace Owens claimed that Ukraine "wasn't a thing until 1989", a statement for which she faced criticism. It is related to her views on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

2015: Views on LGBTQ rights

In 2015, Candace Owens expressed her view that while same-sex marriage was a sign of civilization, the push for transgender rights represented "overcivilization."

2016: Launch of SocialAutopsy.com

In 2016, Candace Owens launched SocialAutopsy.com, a controversial website intended to expose online bullies by tracking their digital footprint, leading to criticism over privacy violations and doxing concerns.

2016: Article Mocking Donald Trump's Penis Size

In 2016, Degree180 featured an article mocking Donald Trump's penis size, reflecting Owens' earlier critical stance towards him.

July 28, 2017: Statement on transgender individuals in the military

On July 28, 2017, Candace Owens stated her support for banning transgender individuals undergoing sex reassignment surgery from serving in the U.S. military.

2017: Dismissal of White Nationalism Concerns

After the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Candace Owens said that concern over rising white nationalism was "stupid" and "just election rhetoric".

May 2018: Suggestion about women who don't marry or have children

In May 2018, Candace Owens suggested that women who do not marry or have children experience a biochemical change, citing Sarah Silverman, Chelsea Handler, and Kathy Griffin as examples, which led to a dispute with Silverman.

July 2018: Claim that global warming is not real

In July 2018, Candace Owens claimed that global warming is not real, calling it a lie.

August 2018: Owens disputes with Mollie Tibbetts's cousin, leading to resignations from Turning Point USA chapter.

In August 2018, Candace Owens had a dispute with Sam Lucas, cousin of Mollie Tibbetts, who had been murdered by Cristhian Bahena Rivera. Lucas accused Owens of exploiting Tibbetts's death for "political propaganda." Subsequently, the University of Iowa's chapter of Turning Point USA criticized Owens for "public harassment," and its executive board members resigned in protest.

October 2018: Promotion of Conspiracy Theory During Mail Bombing Attempts

In October 2018, during the United States mail bombing attempts, Candace Owens promoted the conspiracy theory on Twitter that the mailings were sent by leftists. She later deleted the tweet without explanation after the suspect's arrest.

December 2018: Comments about Adolf Hitler at Turning Point UK launch

In December 2018, at the launch of Turning Point UK, Candace Owens made comments about Adolf Hitler in response to a question about "globalism" and "nationalism."

2018: Dismissal of Reports on Hate Crime Resurgence

In 2018, Candace Owens dismissed reports of a resurgence in hate crimes, attributing violence primarily to people on the left.

2018: Warning about Europe becoming a Muslim-majority continent

In 2018, Candace Owens warned that Europe would become a Muslim-majority continent by 2050 and suggested the U.S. would then be forced to save the British.

February 2019: Clarification of Hitler Comments

In February 2019, following heavy criticism, Candace Owens clarified her comments about Hitler, stating he was a "homicidal, psychopathic, maniac" who killed his own people and was not a nationalist. She emphasized there is no excuse for what he did.

April 2019: Comments about Hitler played during House Judiciary Committee testimony

In April 2019, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Representative Ted Lieu played Candace Owens' comments about Hitler. Owens responded that Lieu had omitted critical context to misrepresent her words.

April 2019: Testimony on hate crimes and white supremacists

In April 2019, during her testimony before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Candace Owens claimed that the Southern strategy was a myth. This claim was disputed by several historians.

June 2019: Comments on African Americans and socialism

In June 2019, Candace Owens stated that African Americans were better off in the first 100 years after slavery than they are now, blaming socialism for the change.

2019: KKK as Democrat Terrorist Organization

In 2019, during a hearing on hate crimes, Candace Owens referred to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) as a "Democrat terrorist organization".

April 2020: Owens claims COVID-19 deaths were overcounted.

In April 2020, Candace Owens claimed that COVID-19 deaths were overcounted, despite health experts suggesting the opposite. She also shared misinformation regarding vaccines.

June 2020: Claims about George Soros and George Floyd

In June 2020, Candace Owens claimed that George Soros paid people to protest the murder of George Floyd and that George Floyd was not a good person. Her remarks were retweeted by then-President Trump.

June 2020: Owens says she will not get a COVID-19 vaccine.

In June 2020, Candace Owens stated that she would not get any COVID-19 vaccine and referred to Bill Gates as a "vaccine-criminal".

October 2020: Owens sues Lead Stories and USA Today.

In October 2020, Candace Owens sued Lead Stories and USA Today after they fact-checked her Facebook posts downplaying the COVID-19 pandemic. She alleged their articles led to her being unable to obtain advertising revenue and the termination of a deal with Facebook to advertise her book Blackout. She also created a website to solicit donations for the lawsuit.

Blackout: How Black America Can Make Its Second Escape from the Democrat Plantation

Check it on Amazon

2020: Comments on Black Lives Matter and the Democratic Party

In 2020, Candace Owens criticized the Black Lives Matter movement and the Democratic Party, stating that black lives only matter to white liberals every four years before an election.

2020: Promotion of Trump's claims of election fraud

In 2020, after Joe Biden won the U.S. presidential election and Trump refused to concede, Candace Owens promoted Trump's claims of mass fraud, stating that "the American election was clearly rigged."

April 20, 2021: Comments on Derek Chauvin Trial

On April 20, 2021, Candace Owens claimed that the trial of Derek Chauvin was "mob justice" and not a fair trial.

June 22, 2021: Owens accuses Klacik of money laundering and other illegal activities.

During an Instagram livestream on June 22, 2021, Candace Owens accused former Republican congressional candidate Kimberly Klacik of money laundering, tax fraud, illegal drug use, misusing campaign funds, and being a "madame" who recruits strippers for a strip club owned by her husband.

July 2021: Launch of the Freedom Phone

In July 2021, Candace Owens announced the launch of the Freedom Phone, marketed to Trump supporters as an alternative to Apple and Google-controlled devices, but later revealed to be a rebranded Chinese smartphone.

July 2021: Owens' lawsuit against Lead Stories and USA Today is dismissed.

In July 2021, Candace Owens' lawsuit against Lead Stories and USA Today was dismissed, with the judge ruling that her posts contained COVID-19 misinformation.

August 8, 2021: Owens affirms refusal to get COVID-19 vaccine.

On August 8, 2021, Candace Owens posted on Facebook that she had not received the COVID-19 vaccine and had not demanded that any of her employees get it. She expressed pride in standing firm against bribery, media propaganda, coercion, celebrity-peer pressure, and censorship.

December 2021: Owens interviews Trump about vaccine mandates.

In December 2021, Candace Owens interviewed Donald Trump about vaccine mandates. Trump shared his views on mandates but also praised the vaccine, calling it one of the greatest achievements of mankind and stating that those who get very sick and go to the hospital are the ones that don't take the vaccine.

2021: Promotion of ads against climate crisis predictions

In 2021, Candace Owens promoted paid ads on Facebook, calling the U.S. government "modern doomsayers" for predicting climate crises.

February 2022: Dismissal of Owens' lawsuit upheld.

In February 2022, the dismissal of Candace Owens' lawsuit against Lead Stories and USA Today was upheld.

March 2022: Owens faces criticism for claims about Ukraine.

In March 2022, Candace Owens faced criticism from historian Anne Applebaum for claiming that Ukraine "wasn't a thing until 1989" and dismissing the notion of a Russian-led genocide in the country.

April 2022: Calling The Walt Disney Company "child groomers and pedophiles"

In April 2022, Candace Owens called The Walt Disney Company "child groomers and pedophiles" and called for the boycott of the company, after Disney announced its opposition to Florida House Bill 1557.

April 2022: Class-action lawsuit filed against LGBcoin, Owens, and others.

In April 2022, a class-action lawsuit was filed in Florida against LGBcoin, Candace Owens, stock car racing driver Brandon Brown, and NASCAR, alleging that the defendants had made false statements about the LGBcoin and that the founders of the company had engaged in a pump and dump scheme.

May 2022: False Claim about Robb Elementary School Gunman

In May 2022, Candace Owens falsely claimed on Twitter that the gunman involved in the Robb Elementary School shooting could be transgender and said that he was "cross-dressing".

June 2022: Description of Drag Queen Story Hour as "child abuse"

In June 2022, Candace Owens described Drag Queen Story Hour as "child abuse", arguing that parents who take their children to such events "are underqualified to have children."

October 3, 2022: Wearing "WHITE LIVES MATTER" shirt with Kanye West

On October 3, 2022, during the Adidas Yeezy SZN 9 fashion show in Paris, Candace Owens posed for a photo with Kanye West wearing a matching shirt with the "WHITE LIVES MATTER" slogan. She later defended West's antisemitic tweets and accused the Anti-Defamation League of instigating antisemitism.

December 2022: Owens faces backlash for claims about Zelenskyy's wife.

In December 2022, Candace Owens faced backlash and fact-checking on social media after making unfounded claims about Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy's wife, Olena Zelenska.

December 2022: Owens promotes anti-vaccine film 'Died Suddenly'.

In December 2022, Candace Owens promoted the anti-vaccine film Died Suddenly.

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December 2022: Klacik's lawsuit against Owens is dismissed.

In December 2022, Kimberly Klacik's defamation lawsuit against Candace Owens was dismissed with prejudice, and Klacik had to pay Owens $115,000.

2022: Comments on Moon Landing Conspiracy

In 2022, Candace Owens addressed a tweet about the Moon landing being "faked" on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast, stating she doesn't know or care enough to call it a hoax.

October 2023: Owens condemns Israeli strike on Christian church in Gaza.

In October 2023, Candace Owens condemned an Israeli strike on a Christian church in Gaza that resulted in Christian deaths, tweeting against the act and stating that no government has the right to commit genocide.

2023: Owens declares 'Fuck Ukraine'.

In a 2023 interview, Candace Owens expressed her opposition to American military aid to Ukraine, stating "I'm very much a person who has said from the very beginning, 'Fuck Ukraine', you know, and I stand by that".

January 2024: Accusations against transgender people

In January 2024, Candace Owens tweeted accusations against transgender people, claiming they were "mass drugging children" and that the "LGBTQ movement brought with it a sexual plague on our society." These comments were condemned by LGBTQ rights groups.

March 2024: Owens departs The Daily Wire after break with Ben Shapiro.

In March 2024, Candace Owens departed The Daily Wire, after a break with Ben Shapiro. Shapiro saw her position as increasingly antisemitic, particularly concerning her views on US support for Israel and comments about "political Jews".

March 2024: Endorsement of Brigitte Macron Conspiracy Theory

In March 2024, Candace Owens endorsed the conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron was secretly transgender, claiming she would stake her reputation on it.

March 2024: Liking of antisemitic tweet and The Daily Wire ending association

In March 2024, Candace Owens liked a tweet referencing the antisemitic blood libel accusation. Shortly after, The Daily Wire announced they were ending their association with Owens.

March 2024: Dismissal from The Daily Wire

In March 2024, Candace Owens was dismissed from The Daily Wire following comments regarded as antisemitic and tensions with colleagues.

March 2024: Announcement of Owens' Departure from The Daily Wire

In March 2024, Jeremy Boreing announced that Candace Owens would be leaving The Daily Wire, due to antisemitic comments and tensions with co-host Ben Shapiro.

March 2024: Owens begins publicly claiming Brigitte Macron is a biological man.

Starting in March 2024, Candace Owens had been publicly claiming that Brigitte Macron was a biological man named Jean-Michel Trogneux, leading to a lawsuit.

June 2024: Owens criticizes Antisemitism Awareness Act.

In June 2024, Candace Owens criticized the Antisemitism Awareness Act passed by the United States House of Representatives, stating that it violated individuals' First Amendment rights.

July 2024: Release of "Literally Hitler. Why Can't We Talk About Him?" episode

In July 2024, Candace Owens released an episode of the Candace show on YouTube entitled "Literally Hitler. Why Can't We Talk About Him?". She criticized mainstream narratives regarding Nazi Germany, denied Nazi medical experiments, and referred to the Holocaust as "an ethnic cleansing [that] almost took place".

July 2024: Comments on Ashkenazi Jews and the War in Ukraine

In July 2024, Candace Owens suggested that Ashkenazi Jews trace their origin to Khazars and blamed instances of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church on them. She also implied the war in Ukraine is linked to Khazars' desire to seek revenge on Russia and Iran.

August 2024: Announcement of Speaking Tour and Opposition

In August 2024, Candace Owens announced plans for a speaking tour of Australia and New Zealand, which led to calls for her to be denied entry due to her anti-Semitic views.

August 18, 2024: Owens claims Leo Frank killed Mary Phagan as part of ritual murder.

On August 18, 2024, Candace Owens claimed that Leo Frank, a Jewish businessman lynched in 1915, killed Mary Phagan as part of a ritual murder, referencing blood libel. She also claimed the existence of a "Frankish Cult" engaged in pedophilia and incest. Her father-in-law repudiated her remarks, and she was disinvited from a Trump fundraiser.

September 2024: Owens suspended from YouTube for hate speech.

In September 2024, Candace Owens was temporarily suspended from YouTube for violating its hate speech policies. The suspension resulted from a video featuring an interview with Kanye West, during which West claimed that Jewish people control the media.

October 27, 2024: Cancellation of Visa

On October 27, 2024, Australia's Immigration Minister Tony Burke canceled Candace Owens's visa based on her "capacity to incite discord".

November 2024: Initial Barring from New Zealand and Subsequent Reversal

In November 2024, Candace Owens was initially barred from entering New Zealand, but the decision was later reversed following a request for Ministerial Intervention.

November 2024: Speaking Tour of Australia and New Zealand

In November 2024, Candace Owens was planning a speaking tour of five Australian cities and Auckland, New Zealand. Local Jewish groups called for the governments to deny her entry because of her anti-Semitic remarks.

2024: Owens accuses Netanyahu of killing children.

In 2024, Candace Owens accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of killing children, calling Israel's actions "a holocaust that is being committed on Palestinian children and women".

2024: Hosting Bart Sibrel on Podcast

In 2024, Candace Owens hosted conspiracy theorist Bart Sibrel on her podcast to promote the theory that the Moon landing was faked.

2024: Owens makes inaccurate claims about Zelensky.

In 2024, Candace Owens inaccurately claimed that Zelensky is gay and said she did not want Ukraine to win against Russia, citing spiritual reasons related to Zelensky's actions against churches and bishops.

2024: Owens suggests AIPAC responsible for JFK assassination.

In 2024, Candace Owens suggested that AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group, was responsible for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy during an interview with left-wing commentator Briahna Joy Gray. There is no evidence supporting this claim.

2024: Espousal of Antisemitic Conspiracy Theories

Since 2024, Candace Owens has been publicly espousing antisemitic conspiracy theories, marking a significant shift in her public persona and commentary.

February 2025: Announcement of 'Harvey Speaks' Media Series

In February 2025, Candace Owens announced she was working on a media series titled "Harvey Speaks" on Harvey Weinstein, and has been in contact with him since his second conviction, stating he was "wrongfully convicted".

July 23, 2025: Macrons sue Owens for defamation.

On July 23, 2025, French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, sued Candace Owens and her limited liability company for numerous counts of defamation and false light in Delaware state court, because Owens publicly claimed Brigitte Macron was a biological man named Jean-Michel Trogneux.

August 1, 2025: Owens says Trump asked her to stop speaking about Brigitte Macron.

In an interview with Tucker Carlson published August 1, 2025, Candace Owens said she had received a phone call from President Donald Trump in February of the same year, and that he had asked her to stop speaking on the topic of Brigitte Macron.

September 2025: Questioning of Charlie Kirk Assassination Investigation

In September 2025, following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Candace Owens questioned aspects of the investigation on her podcast, suggesting conspiracies and implicating various individuals and groups.

September 18, 2025: Macrons' lawyer says they will provide evidence that Brigitte is a woman.

On September 18, 2025, the Macrons' lawyer stated that they would be providing "photographic evidence" that Brigitte Macron is in fact a woman.

October 14, 2025: Loss of High Court Challenge Over Visa Denial

On October 14, 2025, Candace Owens lost her High Court challenge over the Australian Government's decision to deny her entry to Australia.

November 22, 2025: Owens claims French government official says Macron ordered her assassination.

On November 22, 2025, Candace Owens tweeted that she had "credible enough" claims from a French government official that Macron had ordered members of the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group to assassinate her, referencing Charlie Kirk's assassination and claiming an Israeli operative was involved. She provided no evidence.

December 2025: Owens falsely asserts Jewish responsibility for transatlantic slave trade.

In December 2025, Candace Owens falsely asserted that Jewish individuals were primarily responsible for the enslavement and sale of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade, encouraging her audience to read Der Talmudjude. Historians rejected her claims as inaccurate, and she has used this assertion to incite hatred against Jews among African-Americans.

December 2025: Meeting with Erika Kirk and Continued Allegations

In December 2025, Candace Owens met with Erika Kirk but later stated that she did not recant her prior allegations against Turning Point USA regarding Charlie Kirk's assassination.

2025: Criticism of Trump

In 2025, Candace Owens called Trump a "chronic disappointment" and criticized his bombing of Iran and the freezing of federal funding for Harvard University.

2025: Release of 'Becoming Brigitte' Miniseries

In 2025, Candace Owens released a multi-part video miniseries titled "Becoming Brigitte", which promoted the conspiracy theory about Brigitte Macron.

January 27, 2026: Release of Leaked Audio on Podcast

On January 27, 2026, Candace Owens released alleged leaked audio on her podcast of a Turning Point USA meeting involving Erika Kirk and employees.

February 2026: Owens praises General Order No. 11.

In February 2026, Candace Owens praised General Order No. 11, a command issued by General Ulysses Grant during the American Civil War expelling Jews from his military district, which was later overturned by Abraham Lincoln. Owens said that "Jewish supremacists had everything to do with the Civil War in America."