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Candace Owens addressed online claims that she was paid to soften her stance after a private meeting with Erika Kirk, dismissing the backlash as bot-driven. She explained why the discussion was held off the record and admitted her earlier post targeting TPUSA was overly aggressive. Despite the meeting, Owens said her doubts about the official narrative surrounding Charlie Kirk’s death remain unchanged.
Candace Owens found herself facing a fresh wave of online scrutiny this week after revealing details of a private, hours-long meeting with Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. What was initially framed as a step toward dialogue quickly morphed into controversy, with critics accusing Owens of softening her stance for financial gain.
The accusations spread rapidly across social media, fueled by livestream comments and clipped reactions.
Owens, however, has firmly rejected those claims, arguing that the narrative forming online says more about internet outrage culture than about the substance of the meeting itself. Her response has reignited debate over transparency, trust, and credibility in politically charged media spaces.
Candace Owens addresses “botted” backlash while standing by her evolving tone
Owens addressed the allegations head-on during a podcast episode and livestream, where she responded to viewers suggesting she had been “paid” to change her position following the meeting.
Reading comments aloud, she dismissed the claims as artificial outrage, saying the reaction was not organic.
“There's, the chats are so botted... And we've had so many people talk about how there are so many bots in the chat. And so focus on, obviously, the words that I am saying and obviously you can tell that I have not been paid.”She also clarified why the meeting with Erika Kirk was not conducted publicly, explaining that while a live discussion was initially planned with Megyn Kelly expected to moderate, the escalating tensions made an off-the-record conversation more productive.
“I wished it was live. But I will also say I am glad that some parts weren't because I was then able to tell them some things that I have not yet said that I wanted to, like, fact-check and get some answers on.”In a notable shift, Owens acknowledged that a previous post urging donors to withdraw support from Turning Point USA crossed a line. “I have to own that. That's aggressive. That is actually aggressive in retrospect.”Despite conceding that point, Owens made clear that her skepticism surrounding the official narrative of Charlie Kirk’s murder remains unchanged. She continues to dispute TPUSA’s stance on the suspect and insists that unanswered questions still deserve public examination. For Owens, the meeting did not signal retreat but rather a recalibration of how, and when, certain claims should be made.Also Read: “So many lies”: Candace Owens breaks her silence on TPUSA backlash, anger-fueled tweets, and the controversy that followed
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