Conservative commentator Candace Owens is pushing back against growing speculation about her conspicuous absence from Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, addressing rumors of a rift between herself and the late Turning Point USA founder during a fiery segment on the Sept. 18 episode of The Candace Owens Show.
Owens, once viewed as one of Kirk’s closest allies in the conservative movement, took aim at former Turning Point USA board member and media host Eric Bolling, accusing him of spreading lies about her relationship with Kirk.
“They are working on a narrative, like they always do,” Owens said. “They are trying to pretend that Charlie and I didn’t speak for years. It could not be further from the truth, OK? Charlie and I never for a single second stopped being friends.”
Owens Alleges Deeper Forces at Play
Owens went on to claim that there was a coordinated effort to silence her theories about Kirk’s death, which she described as a “full-blown fed operation.” She floated a controversial theory involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting he may have played a role in the conservative activist’s death.
“Like I said, the reason that they are doing this is because they want us to stop investigating the death of Charlie Kirk,” Owens said. “I am convinced that this is a full-blown fed operation.”
Owens also noted she was not invited to speak at the September 21 memorial event, which included speeches from President Donald Trump, Senator JD Vance, and Tucker Carlson.
“Nope, you’re right, you got me,” she said sarcastically. “I was not invited to speak alongside President Trump and JD Vance on the stage with Tucker Carlson at a memorial event…what does this have to do with anything?”
She claimed there were rumors of “pressure” from unnamed sources influencing the planning of the memorial, further suggesting there is an orchestrated attempt to sideline her.
Bolling Speaks Out
The controversy gained traction after Eric Bolling appeared on Patrick Bet-David’s PBD Podcast, where he suggested Owens’ increasingly conspiratorial views alienated her from the TPUSA establishment.
“Candace’s theories got just a little bit too down the rabbit holes,” Bolling said. “It was too extreme for [TPUSA’s] taste.”
Bolling added that while Kirk maintained a cordial relationship with Owens, they had not maintained regular communication for years.
“Charlie, to his credit, kept a cordial friendship with her for years, but it hasn’t been a communication pipeline between the two for many years,” he said.
Owens Claims Donors Need Scrutiny
During her show, Owens cast further doubt on the current direction of Turning Point USA, saying donors should be investigated.
“What I am hearing from sources is not good,” Owens said ominously, without naming names.
Her vague but charged comments appeared aimed at sowing suspicion among the conservative base about the organization Kirk helped build.
Credibility Questions and Community Reactions
Critics say Owens is using her platform to stoke drama without evidence. During the same PBD podcast, a commentator warned that Owens was on track to lose credibility by failing to provide proof for her claims.
“Candace Owens is rage bait and always has been,” said activist DeRay Mckesson on X (formerly Twitter). “She’s pandering to the left for attention, not because she’s trustworthy or because her views have actively changed.”
This sentiment has reportedly been circulating within segments of the Black community, many of whom have viewed Owens with suspicion over her alignment with right-wing movements and inconsistent messaging.
Erika Kirk and Memorial Fallout
Owens also confirmed that she did not attend any of the vigils held for Charlie Kirk and admitted she has no current relationship with his widow, Erika Kirk.
“No, actually, I didn’t attend a vigil and nope, you’re right, you got me,” she said, dismissively.
As the backlash swells, Owens remains defiant, portraying herself as a truth-teller under siege.
What remains unclear is how the broader conservative movement will respond to Owens’ increasingly incendiary statements—and whether her once-close ties to Kirk will remain a political asset or become a permanent liability.
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