A major public feud has erupted among prominent conservative media figures following a tense speech at Turning Point USA's (TPUSA) AmericaFest event. The controversy centers on comments made by commentator Ben Shapiro about fellow conservative voice Candace Owens, praise from journalist Bari Weiss, and a sharp rebuke from host Megyn Kelly.
The AmericaFest Speech That Sparked the Fire
The incident unfolded on December 18 during the AmericaFest gathering organized by the conservative student group Turning Point USA. Taking the stage, Ben Shapiro delivered a speech where he directly called out Candace Owens by name. He accused her of promoting what he termed as dangerous conspiracy theories and making emotive accusations without providing evidence.
Shapiro specifically referenced false online rumors about the death of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, who is alive. In his remarks, Shapiro stated, "We also have a duty to provide you with evidence of the claims that we make. Emotive accusations, conspiracy theories, and just casting questions. That's lazy and stupid and misleading." He went on to use harsh language, criticizing Owens's approach to the Kirk rumors.
Shapiro argued that individuals with large public platforms have a moral duty to challenge such rhetoric. "If Candace Owens decides to spend every day since the murder of Charlie Kirk casting aspersions at TPUSA… then we as people with a microphone have a moral obligation to call that out by name," he said, despite there being no murder.
Praise and Immediate Backlash
Shortly after the speech, journalist Bari Weiss took to social media platform X to express her strong support for Shapiro's message. She shared an adapted version of his comments published by The Free Press and wrote, "Only Cowards Tolerate Conspiracy Theorists. @benshapiro delivered a barnburner tonight @TPUSA."
This public endorsement triggered an immediate and fierce response from Megyn Kelly. The former Fox News host replied directly to Weiss on X, accusing both her and Shapiro of launching a "joint attack" without understanding the full context of the situation.
"@benshapiro & @bariweiss in a joint attack on yours truly (their 'friend') tonight w/o a damn clue what has been going on behind the scenes for months," Kelly wrote. She suggested they "probably should have checked w/ @TPUSA & @MrsErikaKirk first," referring to Charlie Kirk's wife, Erika Kirk. Kelly added, "I'm embarrassed for them."
Behind-the-Scenes Mediation Revealed
Megyn Kelly later elaborated on her podcast, revealing that she had been involved in private efforts to mediate the situation for months. She claimed that Erika Kirk had personally asked for her help to quietly resolve tensions between herself and Candace Owens. Kelly expressed frustration that the public attacks by Shapiro and Weiss had undermined these behind-the-scenes peacemaking efforts and made the situation worse.
Candace Owens also responded to Shapiro's speech online. In a post on X, she implied that Shapiro's forceful critique was motivated by fear related to the ongoing controversy, stating it was "beyond obvious" he was "fearful" about something.
The clash has exposed significant rifts within the conservative media landscape, turning a dispute over online conspiracy theories about a living individual into a loud and personal battle among some of its most recognizable stars. The fallout from the AmericaFest stage continues to play out across social media and podcasts, highlighting the complex dynamics and personal relationships within this sphere.
