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 and far-right political commentator and activist. She is known for her pro-Trump activism and criticism of the Democratic Party and Black Lives Matter. Owens gained prominence through her website Red Pill Black, advocating for conservative viewpoints within the African American community. She has been a vocal critic of progressive movements and has expressed controversial opinions on various social and political issues. Owens has also been involved in several media ventures, including hosting a show on The Daily Wire.

Sections (4)

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

1989: Owens claims Ukraine wasn't a thing until 1989

In March 2022, Candace Owens claimed that Ukraine "wasn't a thing until 1989".

2016: Launched SocialAutopsy.com

In 2016, Candace Owens launched SocialAutopsy.com, a website intended to expose bullies online by tracking their digital footprint. The proposal involved crowdfunding and soliciting users to send screenshots of offensive posts, categorized by the user's name, which drew immediate controversy.

2016: Degree180 blog mocked Donald Trump

In 2016, the Degree180 blog featured an article mocking Donald Trump's penis size, reflecting Owens' earlier political views before her shift towards conservatism.

July 28, 2017: Statements on Transgender Individuals in the Military

On July 28, 2017, Candace Owens expressed her support for banning transgender individuals undergoing sex reassignment surgery from serving in the United States military, but stated she did not oppose fully transitioned transgender individuals serving.

2017: Concern over rising white nationalism was "stupid"

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

May 2018: Remarks on Women and Childbearing

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. This led to a Twitter exchange with Silverman.

July 2018: Global Warming Claim

In July 2018, Candace Owens claimed that global warming is not real, calling it a lie used to "extract dollars from Americans".

August 2018: Owens disputes with Mollie Tibbetts's cousin

In August 2018, Candace Owens had a dispute with Sam Lucas, cousin of Mollie Tibbetts, who had been murdered by Cristhian Bahena Rivera. Tibbetts's cousin accused Owens of exploiting Tibbetts's death for "political propaganda," and Owens responded by criticizing Lucas.

October 2018: Owens promotes conspiracy theory about mail bombing attempts

During the October 2018 United States mail bombing attempts targeting prominent Democrats, Candace Owens promoted the conspiracy theory that the mailings were sent by leftists. After authorities arrested a 56-year-old suspect who was a registered Republican and Trump supporter, Owens deleted her tweet without explanation.

October 2018: BLEXIT Launch and Kanye West's Involvement

In October 2018, at the launch of BLEXIT, Candace Owens claimed that Kanye West designed merchandise for the movement. However, the following day, West denied being the designer and disavowed the effort.

December 2018: Comments About Adolf Hitler

In December 2018, at the launch of Turning Point UK, Candace Owens made controversial comments about Adolf Hitler.

2018: Warning about Europe and Muslim Majority

In 2018, Candace Owens warned that "Europe will fall and become a Muslim-majority continent by 2050" and that the United States would be "forced to save" the British.

2018: Dismissed reports of a resurgence in hate crimes

In 2018, Owens dismissed reports of a resurgence in hate crimes, saying "All of the violence this year primarily happened because of people on the left."

February 2019: Clarification of Hitler Comments

In February 2019, Candace Owens clarified her previous comments about Hitler, stating that he was a "homicidal, psychopathic, maniac" who killed his own people, during a Judiciary Committee hearing.

April 2019: Testimony on Hate Crimes and White Supremacists

During her April 2019 testimony before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Candace Owens claimed that the Republican Party's Southern strategy was a "myth" that "never happened", which was disputed by historians.

April 2019: Testimony Interrupted by Hitler Comments

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

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 currently and attributed this to socialism.

2019: KKK Called a Democrat Terrorist Organization

During a 2019 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 stated that COVID-19 deaths were overcounted, contradicting health experts who suggested they were likely undercounted.

June 2020: Claims about George Soros and George Floyd

In June 2020, Candace Owens claimed George Soros paid people to protest George Floyd's murder and stated that George Floyd "was not a good person", which sparked controversy.

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

In June 2020, Candace Owens stated that she would not get any coronavirus vaccine, referring to Bill Gates as a "vaccine-criminal" and accusing him and the WHO of experimenting on African and Indian children with non-FDA approved vaccines.

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, claiming their articles led to advertising revenue loss and termination of a book deal.

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

Check it on Amazon

2020: Promotion of Election Fraud Claims

Following Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Candace Owens promoted Donald Trump's claims of mass fraud.

2020: Criticized the Black Lives Matter movement

In 2020, Owens criticized the Black Lives Matter movement, arguing that African Americans have a victim mentality and referring to the Democratic Party as a 'plantation'.

April 20, 2021: Comments on Derek Chauvin Trial

On April 20, 2021, Candace Owens claimed that the trial of Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd, was "mob justice" and unfair.

June 22, 2021: Owens accuses Kimberly Klacik of money laundering and other crimes

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

July 2021: Launched the Freedom Phone

In July 2021, Candace Owens announced the launch of the Freedom Phone, a device marketed toward Trump supporters, with claims that it was 'not controlled by Apple or Google'. The phone was later revealed to be a rebranded Umidigi A9 Pro.

UMIDIGI A9 Pro Unlocked Cell Phone, Helio P60, 6GB+128GB Expandable 256GB, 6.3 Inch FHD Touch Screen, Double-Sided 2.5D Curved Glass, 48MP Quad Camera, 4150mAh, Dual SIM 4G Volte

Check it on Amazon

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 expresses pride in not getting the COVID-19 vaccine

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

December 2021: Owens questions Trump about vaccine mandates

In December 2021, Candace Owens questioned Donald Trump about vaccine mandates. Trump explained that he shared her views on mandates but said that the vaccine is one of the greatest achievements of mankind and that the ones that get very sick and go to the hospital are the ones that don't take the vaccine.

2021: Climate Crisis Ads

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

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 views on 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: Boycott of Disney

In April 2022, Candace Owens called The Walt Disney Company "child groomers and pedophiles" and called for a boycott after Disney opposed Florida's "Parental Rights in Education Act".

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 false statements about the LGBcoin and a pump and dump scheme by the company's founders.

May 2022: False Claim about Robb Elementary School Shooter

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

June 2022: Description of Drag Queen Story Hour

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

October 3, 2022: Controversy with Kanye West and "WHITE LIVES MATTER" Slogan

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

December 2022: Owens makes unfounded claims about Olena Zelenska

In December 2022, Candace Owens faced backlash for making unfounded claims about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's wife, Olena Zelenska, leading to fact-checking on social media.

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

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

Loading Video...

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

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

2022: Owens addresses tweet about Moon landing being faked

In 2022, Candace Owens stated on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast that she does not know or care enough about the Moon landing to call it a hoax, stating that she has "never cared about the topic," after a previous tweet suggesting the Moon landing was faked.

October 2023: Owens condemns Israeli strike on a church in Gaza

In October 2023, Candace Owens condemned an Israeli strike on a church in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of Christians, tweeting her disgust at propagandists pretending a Christian church was not bombed. She clarified her views in early November, stating that no government has a right to commit genocide.

2023: Owens says "Fuck Ukraine" in interview

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

January 2024: Accusations against Transgender People

In January 2024, Candace Owens accused transgender people of "mass drugging children" and claimed the "LGBTQ movement brought with it a sexual plague on our society" in a post on X (Twitter).

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

In March 2024, Candace Owens departed from The Daily Wire, reportedly due to a break with Ben Shapiro over her stance on Israel. Shapiro viewed her position as increasingly antisemitic after she criticized US support for Israel and made comments about "political Jews."

March 2024: Owens endorses conspiracy theory about Brigitte Macron

In March 2024, Candace Owens endorsed the conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, was secretly transgender. She stated she would stake her entire professional reputation on the fact that Brigitte Macron is in fact a man.

March 2024: Dismissal from The Daily Wire

In March 2024, Candace Owens was dismissed from The Daily Wire. This decision followed a series of comments considered to be antisemitic, along with months of tensions between Owens and co-host Ben Shapiro, as well as other Daily Wire staff.

March 2024: Announced Owens would be leaving The Daily Wire

In March 2024, Jeremy Boreing announced that Candace Owens would be leaving The Daily Wire, a move believed to be related to comments considered antisemitic and liking a tweet referencing blood libel.

March 2024: Ending of Daily Wire Association

In March 2024, The Daily Wire ended their association with Candace Owens after she liked a tweet referencing the antisemitic blood libel accusation.

July 2024: Comments on Nazi Germany

In July 2024, Candace Owens released an episode of the Candace show on YouTube entitled "Literally Hitler. Why Can't We Talk About Him?" 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: Claims about Ashkenazi Jews

In July 2024, Candace Owens suggested that Ashkenazi Jews trace their origin to Khazars and are not related to "biblical Jews".

August 2024: Jewish groups call for Owens to be denied entry to Australia and New Zealand

In late August 2024, Jewish groups in Australia and New Zealand called for their governments to deny Candace Owens entry due to her anti-Semitic views and remarks, ahead of her planned speaking tour in November 2024. A Holocaust survivor also called for Owens to be blocked due to her denial of Nazi medical experiments.

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

On August 18, 2024, Candace Owens claimed that Leo Frank, a Jewish businessman wrongly convicted of murder, had killed Mary Phagan as part of a ritual murder, referencing blood libel. She further claimed a "Frankish Cult...masquering behind Jews" engages in pedophilia and incest, and that "tens of thousands of pedophiles [who] hide from justice in Israel".

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 followed an interview with Kanye West, during which West claimed that Jewish people control the media.

2024: Owens inaccurately claims Zelensky is gay

In 2024, Candace Owens inaccurately claimed that Zelensky is gay and said she didn't want Ukraine to win against Russia, stating that she would never support a homosexual actor that is locking up churches and bishops.

2025: Owens criticizes Trump's response to humanitarian crisis in Palestine

In 2025, Candace Owens criticized President Trump's lack of response to the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and his announcement of building a resort on the ruins of Gaza.

2025: Owens releases video miniseries promoting Brigitte Macron conspiracy theory

In 2025, Candace Owens released a multi-part video miniseries titled Becoming Brigitte, which promoted the conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, was secretly transgender. She also promoted the book by Xavier Poussard, Devenir Brigitte (Becoming Brigitte in its English publication), which became a bestseller on Amazon.