Candace Owens Sparks Feud with Turning Point USA Over Funeral Video
Candace Owens has ignited a public dispute with Turning Point USA, centering on Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk. The conflict began with online criticism of a funeral video and escalated into a sharp exchange between Owens and a producer from The Charlie Kirk Show.
Funeral Video Controversy Escalates Online
The situation intensified after commentator Zach Costello posted a video on X showing Erika Kirk leaning over and kissing her husband Charlie Kirk’s casket while it was being recorded. Costello wrote, “Alright, if I die, and my wife has her friend record her doing this over my casket for a social media moment, I hereby grant you permission to criticize her for it. Everyone was rooting for Erika Kirk and TPUSA after Charlie died. They are the ones who turned everyone off…”
Candace Owens responded strongly, stating, “The worst part is that it wasn’t her friend recording it. It was the head of fundraising at Turning Point USA. Erika did not bring a single personal friend or family member to Utah with her. There is no amount of propaganda that will ever make that normal. Mind you, the Vice President offered to fly people in aboard Air Force 2. Charlie’s entire family flew in. Erika chose to be comforted by Stacy Sheridan recording her crying.”
Online Backlash and Media Claims
The online fight continued as independent journalist Elizabeth Lane posted a long thread on X questioning Erika Kirk’s actions after Charlie Kirk’s death. Daily Wire host Megan Basham pushed back, urging critics to watch Charlie Kirk’s old videos to see his love for his wife.
Candace Owens then claimed that episodes of The Charlie Kirk Show had been removed from Spotify, Apple, and YouTube about six weeks after Charlie Kirk’s death. Ryan Marty, a producer for the show, denied this, writing that he “exclusively runs the CK YouTube” and said “nothing was deleted.” He added that full episodes were never posted on YouTube, only clips.
Personal Attacks and Racial Undertones
The argument turned personal when Ryan Marty referred to Candace Owens as a “low IQ DEI queen” in a February 12 post. Owens interpreted this as a racial remark, prompting Marty to later clarify that DEI “has nothing to do with race.”
Owens responded, “It is difficult to put into words the audacity of Turning Point USA in their lies and subsequent gaslighting… I am sorry but this is just pathetic.” She tagged Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet, questioning why her race was mentioned and why she was compared to Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
As the back-and-forth persisted, Owens wrote, “They have absolutely no arguments anymore. We’re basically now at ‘she’s black and stupid’.” She invited critics to debate her live, saying, “Offer still stands. Should be pretty easy to win a debate against a ‘DEI-hire.’” In a recent podcast episode, Owens hinted at a new series called “Fatal Attraction,” focused on Erika Kirk.
Implications and Ongoing Tensions
This feud highlights broader tensions within conservative media circles, raising questions about ethics, privacy, and public perception. The controversy continues to unfold, with both sides doubling down on their positions and no resolution in sight.
