The Daily Wire’s co-founder, Ben Shapiro, and one of the biggest names in the outlet, Candace Owens, have been battling on social media the last few weeks over their opposing viewpoints on the war between Israel and Hamas.
Owens made a tweet on November 3 stating that genocide is never justified. Her choice of words implied that Israel was committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian health officials in the Gaza Strip announced that more than 10,000 have died as a result of intense Israeli bombardment.
The post angered pro-Israeli advocates, including her employer, Shapiro, who is Jewish.
No government anywhere has a right to commit a genocide, ever.
There is no justification for a genocide.
I can’t believe this even needs to be said or is even considered the least bit controversial to state.
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) November 3, 2023
A video surfaced on Tuesday of Shapiro calling Owens “absolutely disgraceful” for her recent comments on the Israel-Hamas war while speaking at a private event.
Ben Shapiro calls Candace Owens "absolutely disgraceful"@benshapiro has stepped up to the plate to publicly disavow the vile anti-Semitism spewed daily by @RealCandaceO. Is this the beginning of the end of her career at @DailyWireNews? pic.twitter.com/rwxSw65xJv
— Cultist Ls 🇺🇸🐊 (@LoomerLs) November 14, 2023
Hours after the video’s release, Owens tweeted Matthew 5:9 and later referenced Matthew 6:24, stating, “You cannot serve both God and money.”
Shapiro replied to her tweet, stating, “By all means quit.”
Candace, if you feel that taking money from The Daily Wire somehow comes between you and God, by all means quit. https://t.co/qachKhAuHo
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 15, 2023
While Shapiro is a co-founder and co-owner of The Daily Wire, he has previously stated that he does not have the authority to fire Owens, who hosts the Daily Wire’s “Candace Owens” talk show.
In response, Owens tweeted Wednesday that Shapiro has “been acting unprofessional and emotionally unhinged for weeks now. And we have all had to sit back and allow it and have all tried to exercise exceeding understanding for your raw emotion.”
You have been acting unprofessional and emotionally unhinged for weeks now. And we have all had to sit back and allow it and have all tried to exercise exceeding understanding for your raw emotion.
But you cross a certain line when you come for scripture and read yourself into…
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) November 15, 2023
Owens said she would not be making “ad-hominem attacks” against Shapiro, who should be “embarrassed” over his handling of the situation while being interviewed by former FOX News host Tucker Carlson.
Ep. 39 Candace Owens responds to Ben Shapiro.
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Candace is attacked – even when she’s right
(4:27) Ben Shapiro’s comments
(12:50) The emotional response to news out of Israel
(23:05) Nikki Haley vs. free speech
(30:34) 2024 predictions pic.twitter.com/VOThqpQQ48— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) November 15, 2023
This incident is not the first feud between the two right-wing colleagues. Shapiro previously criticized Owens for her support of rapper Kanye West, who made antisemitic comments.
Owens is not a stranger to being confronted by other conservatives over her commentary. A week after Hamas attacked Israel, she got into an argument with Megan Kelly over Harvard University having the right to blacklist students protesting for Palestinians.
