Candace Owens Escalates Feud with Ben Shapiro, Urges Followers to 'Take Real Action' | WATCH

Conservative commentator Candace Owens has intensified her long-standing feud with former Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro, labeling him a "dangerous" individual and a "parasite" while calling on her audience to "take real action" against him. The remarks, delivered in a fiery podcast episode released on January 7, 2026, have sparked accusations of inciting violence and drawn sharp criticism from fellow conservatives.

In the episode titled "DEFCON 3: Ben Shapiro's Legacy of No-Nos | Candace Ep 286," Owens delved into what she described as ongoing harassment from her former employer. She accused Shapiro of using clips from her old Daily Wire podcast to publicly attack her, claiming the content is being repurposed in a hostile manner nearly two years after her firing.

"95% of what I have gone through, the public knows nothing about. That changes today," Owens stated at the outset, before outlining alleged plots against her and Shapiro's "history of no-nos."

Owens' rhetoric grew increasingly heated as she dehumanized Shapiro, comparing him to a "succubus," "worm," and "maggot on a corpse." She suggested he views others' success as something to exploit, stating he "sees health" and "believes that it belongs to him."

Critics have pointed to these descriptions as echoing antisemitic tropes, especially given the pair's history of clashes over Israel-related issues.

The podcast also touched on broader conservative infighting, including references to Turning Point USA and its founder Charlie Kirk, whom Owens has previously targeted with unsubstantiated claims.

The most controversial segment came when Owens urged her listeners to respond decisively. "This is real life," she said, emphasizing the need for "real action" against Shapiro, whom she portrayed as a persistent threat.

This phrasing quickly went viral after conservative commentator Ian Miles Cheong shared a clip on X on January 9, accusing Owens of attempting to "incite someone to kill him."

Eyal Yakoby echoed this sentiment, calling it a "call to violence and completely unacceptable rhetoric." Natly Denise and Mulder’s Long Fight for Account Reinstatement, described Owens' followers as a "cult" and warned that her words could mobilize harassment or worse.

The feud traces back to late 2023, escalating when Owens was fired from The Daily Wire in March 2024 amid allegations of antisemitism following her comments on Israel and conspiracy theories. Since then, Owens has repeatedly attacked Shapiro, including a December 2025 podcast where she claimed he sought to destroy her reputation and livelihood after her departure.

In another episode later that month, she responded to Shapiro's criticism at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest by saying, "Why are you not embarrassed to be alive?" a remark some interpreted as suicidal ideation encouragement.

Owens has also accused Shapiro of bizarre plots to troll her, including through whistleblower claims that backfired, and tied her grievances to larger narratives involving the Trump administration and conservative institutions.

Detractors like Cinema Shogun and AlaskaBird have highlighted what they see as Owens' pattern of baseless accusations, such as her debunked claims about Fort Huachuca, and warned of the potential for real-world harm from her "deranged" supporters.

Neither Owens nor Shapiro has issued a direct response to the latest backlash. The episode has fueled broader discussions about infighting within the conservative movement, with some speculating on external influences boosting Owens' platform.