Conservative commentator Candace Owens has reignited her public dispute with her former employer, The Daily Wire, by invoking a years-old social media post from rapper Kanye West to frame her own experience.
Owens Draws Parallel with Kanye West's 'Blackballed' Claim
In a video posted on her personal podcast on Wednesday, January 7, Owens stated that Kanye West, now known as Ye, was correct when he spoke about being "blackballed" in a 2022 tweet. She focused on his claim of being shut out for not agreeing with a certain agenda, stating, "It was too soon, but boy, oh boy, was he right about blackballing people who are opposed to a specific agenda."
While Owens related to this aspect, she notably did not repeat the harmful words about Jewish people that were also part of West's original post, as highlighted by the American Jewish Committee.
The Root of the Conflict and Recent Escalation
Owens traced the beginning of her troubles with The Daily Wire to a specific incident. She claimed that after signing a larger contract with the company, she refused to publicly speak against Kanye West, whom she considers a friend. According to her, this refusal fundamentally altered her relationship with the media outlet.
The rift has only widened since her departure. Owens directly questioned co-founder Ben Shapiro and criticized The Daily Wire's recent decision to relaunch old content from her YouTube channel and podcast. "They premiered an old trailer from when I was joining The Daily Wire. This was not a mistake," she asserted, pointing out that the company added a card noting it was shot in 2021.
This move was perceived as a personal jab by others as well. Writer Melissa Witte commented on X (formerly Twitter) that the decision to republish Owens's old content felt both personal and unnecessary.
Broader Context and Ongoing Battles
This controversy is not happening in isolation. Separately, Owens recently defended past comments she made about Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron. This followed a French court's conviction of several individuals for online abuse linked to false claims about her.
The public exchange of sharp words between Candace Owens and The Daily Wire shows no signs of abating, turning a professional split into a protracted and very public feud.
