Candace Owens Ignites Conservative Media Feud Over Charlie Kirk's Alleged Texts
Conservative podcaster Candace Owens has plunged into a heated public confrontation with television personality Meghan McCain and commentator Ben Shapiro, with the clash rapidly spreading across social media platforms. The controversy centers on Owens' decision to post screenshots of what she claims are private text messages from Charlie Kirk, the late co-founder of Turning Point USA, who passed away in September 2025 after an attack at Utah Valley University.
Meghan McCain's Criticism Sparks Immediate Backlash
The dispute erupted after Meghan McCain publicly denounced individuals sharing Kirk's private communications posthumously. In a post on X, she wrote, "Stop sharing dead people’s text messages. You absolute psychopaths." This statement prompted a swift and forceful response from Candace Owens, who leveraged alleged messages from Kirk to counter both McCain and Shapiro, drawing several other conservative media figures into the escalating online battle.
Alleged Text Message Targets Meghan McCain
Owens shared a screenshot purportedly showing a blunt message from Charlie Kirk about Meghan McCain, which read, "Meghan McCain is a piece of s***." Accompanying the post with a flame emoji, Owens directed a follow-up message at McCain and others in conservative circles, stating, "Pretending Charlie was friends with Ben Shapiro and filthy neocons like you simply won’t be happening on my watch."
Longstanding Tensions with Ben Shapiro Surface
The friction between Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro had been simmering prior to this incident. On March 13, Owens expressed her outrage over remarks Shapiro made following Kirk's death, posting on X, "When I heard Ben of all people say ‘I will pick up Charlie’s bloody mic’ it physically sickened me. I cannot comprehend the shamelessness of paying 1 million dollars to try to purchase someone’s legacy who you treated like absolute s*** when he was alive."
Owens further alleged that she maintained constant communication with Kirk during past disagreements involving Shapiro, claiming, "Charlie and I stayed in constant communication over this issue. On the phone and via text. Our friendship never ended." She accused Shapiro of orchestrating behind-the-scenes pressure, stating, "Ben was directing donors to begin to squeeze him with financial and reputational threats after DW fired me. This is how Ben operates behind the scenes."
Debunking Rumors About Erika Kirk
In addition to the feud, Owens addressed circulating rumors concerning Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's wife and current CEO of Turning Point USA. She clarified that an audio clip being shared online was fabricated, writing on X, "The audio going around is not Erika Kirk. It was sent to me many times over the last month and my team was able to debunk it which is why we did not include it in our series."
Ongoing Social Media Fallout
This explosive exchange continues to captivate political media circles, with observers closely monitoring the unfolding drama on social media. The dispute highlights deep-seated rifts within conservative media, fueled by personal grievances and conflicting narratives about Charlie Kirk's legacy and relationships.
