Opinion | Candace Owens Deserved Firing, Said Jews “Control Media” and “Drink Christian Blood”
Candace Owens on her podcast “Candace” at the Daily Wire (Courtesy of Rolling Stone)
Over the last few months, the Jewish community has seen numerous allies become enemies, often to appease those against Israel. Unsurprisingly, this has led to ambiguous messaging from key figures in the Democratic Party, who aim to maintain the support of left-wing voters while quietly defending the only democracy in the Middle East.
However, in a rather shocking turn of events, there has been a similar development in right-wing politics, where isolationist commentators, like Tucker Carlson, and Candace Owens have changed tunes, and curbed their support for Israel.
For many Jewish students, this tone marks a dangerous far-right and far-left coalition against Israel. Previously, most protestors had expressed left-wing ideologies to justify their condemnation of Israel. Unfortunately, Owens and other conservative commentators have altered that possibility, raising the prospects of additional far-right and antisemitic activity on campus.
In November, an unidentified individual wearing a Christian cross-necklace held a sign denoting “Jewish Supremacy” outside of NYU’s Library.
Far-right protestor holds antisemitic sign to support Palestine outside NYU’s Library (The NYU Review)
Owens, who once attended an exclusive event celebrating the relocation of the American Embassy in Israel, has specifically pushed inflammatory charges against Israel. In October, Owens tweeted that “No government anywhere has a right to commit a genocide, ever.” Somehow, in the aftermath of Hamas’ genocidal massacre, Candace’s first comment on the war, shamefully called Israel’s self-defense a “genocide.”
Fans quickly wondered how the Daily Wire, founded by Ben Shapiro, and his best friend Jeremy Boreing might respond to this newfound perspective. Eventually, after months of suspicion, Boreing tweeted apathetically that the “Daily Wire and Candace Owens have ended their relationship.” Unlike Shapiro, Boreing maintains full authority on the termination of employees as the company's CEO.
Regardless, Candace and her far-right supporters were quick to claim victimhood, calling out the “censorship”, and “vitriol” she experienced for opposing Jewish interests.
This, of course, is ridiculous.
While the Daily Wire has yet to formally explain the events, the actions of Owens speak for themselves. In the span of three months, Owens led a series of diatribes against supporters of Israel and those who “control” American politics, clearly playing on classic antisemitic tropes.
Back in November, a leaked video of fellow Daily Wire personality Ben Shapiro called out Owens's “faux sophistication” on the Israel-Hamas war, deriding it as “disgraceful.” In response, Owens tweeted ambiguously that individuals “cannot serve both God and money.” Some fans promptly questioned Candace’s intentions, as she seemed to conflate Shapiro’s defense of the Jewish state with worshiping money.
Afterward, Owens clearly steered away from her traditionally conservative programming to focus light on a “sinister group of Jews who control Hollywood.” In fact, she conducted antagonizing interviews with Rabbis, and other Jewish leaders, before attacking their character on Twitter.
In another case, Owens had a series of exchanges with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach who she blamed for rising antisemitism. The rabbi had previously expressed contempt over Owens’ defense of Kanye West for his support of Nazis.
This past week, others on the left-wing, also chimed in, with progressive personality Cenk Uygur, suggesting that Owens’s rhetoric has surpassed the spectrum of fair anti-Israel critiques.
Nonetheless, Owens doubled down by liking a tweet that accused a Rabbi “of drinking Jewish blood.” The Anti-Defamation League swiftly addressed the behavior, citing rising hate messages against Jews and support from Holocaust denier, Nick Fuentes. Fuentes, considered a self-avowed antisemite and white nationalist, had previously described Owens’ podcast as “a full-fledged war against the Jews.”
As expected, Owens responded firmly, accusing the ADL of “canceling” anyone against Israeli and relevant Jewish causes.
“As I said… everyone can see what is happening. If you have not yet watched, I encourage everyone to watch this episode of my show with a Rabbi. It is the reason I have earned the ire of certain organizations”
But, obviously, to much of the public, Candace Owens is living in delusion.
If you spend three months calling out Jews, for “drinking Christian blood”, “worshipping money over God”, while raising classic conspiracies of a “Jewish pedophilia gang in Hollywood,” then you are certainly an antisemite.
Her followers have undoubtedly proved this point, with tens of thousands of new fans expressing how Owens compellingly represents their fury against the Jews.
One user tweeted, “Just want everyone to realize that we are watching them attempt what they’ve done to so many celebrities before, Kanye, Mel Gibson, Michael Jackson. All these people have are false character attacks amplified by their friends in the media. But this time it won’t work, because the lies have been exposed. Candace, you’re doing a masterful job of beating them at their own games in the public square. Keep it up and stay safe”
Another tweeted, “We all see through their smears and lies, they will fail. Christ is King, Candace shall prevail!”
In this case, “they” seems to represent the Jewish community or prominent individuals who have “attempted” to silence Candace.
Other fans attach images denoting the religious affiliation of various influential figures, using the Star of David to label those who are Jewish.
While a person is arguably not responsible for the actions of their followers, they should certainly recognize when a large majority of fans are holding such abhorrent beliefs.
Perhaps Owens could have released one simple tweet or statement condemning her avowed antisemitic fans and sufficiently calm the concerns of Jews across the country. However, as the controversial commentator has made clear, she has no interest in curtailing the rising hatred toward Jewish people, instead capitalizing on the fame and attention to further her career.
While her future remains unclear, it is certainly worrisome to see such a polarizing figure unite the far-left and far-right in their contempt for Israel and the Jewish people.
