On September 10, 2025, during a campus event at Utah Valley University, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was tragically assassinated. In the wake of this event, conservative commentator Candace Owens suggested a possible link between Jewish individuals or the state of Israel and Kirk's death. Her comments, made via social media and in interviews, offered no evidence to support the allegations, sparking a mix of criticism and speculation in the public sphere.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Owens' remarks, emphasizing their speculative nature and the absence of any factual basis. The article placed Owens' statements within the context of her history of controversial commentary on political and cultural issues. Her latest claim, which directly implicates a specific religious community and nation-state in a violent act, has been met with widespread media discussion, highlighting the sensitivity and potential repercussions of such an assertion.
Owens' remarks came on the heels of Kirk's own comments during an interview with Ben Shapiro, host of Jewish Daily Wire, where he contested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement that one cannot support the MAGA movement and be anti-Israel. This interview, conducted just a day before Kirk's untimely death, has added a layer of complexity to the narrative surrounding the incident.
Despite the attention Owens' claim has received, mainstream reporting on Kirk's assassination has not confirmed any involvement of Jewish individuals or Israel. Her comments are seen as part of a broader pattern of post-event speculation that has become common in today's fast-paced and often polarized media environment.
As the investigation into Kirk's assassination continues, Owens' unverified statements serve as a reminder of the impact that public figures can have on the discourse surrounding such events. The Los Angeles Times has highlighted that, while Owens' comments have been circulated and discussed, they remain uncorroborated claims.