‘The Ability to Cause Controversy Everywhere’: Right-Wing Shill Banned from Australia for LOL Incitement

Candace Owens, a well-known right-wing commentator, exemplifies a troubling presence. It is fitting that she is not granted entry to Australia, and now her visa has been denied.

Following a well-organized campaign against her visit, immigration minister Tony Burke confirmed the decision to refuse her entry into the country. He stated, “From minimizing the Holocaust with troubling comments about [Josef] Mengele to asserting that Muslims initiated slavery, Candace Owens has shown a remarkable ability to stir conflict.” He concluded, “Allowing Candace Owens into Australia does not serve our national interest.” This succinctly encapsulates the prevailing sentiment. Owens presents a significant risk to societal harmony.

With a substantial following of 3 million on social media, Owens perpetuates a narrative filled with misinformation and hostility. Her reputation for antisemitism, a defining factor of her exclusion from Australia, is particularly alarming. At one point, she endorsed a post on X alleging Jews consume Christian blood, which highlights the toxic nature of her commentary. Furthermore, during an episode of The Candace Show in July, she dismissed Mengele’s documented atrocities as “propaganda” and “absurd,” showcasing a troubling denial of Holocaust history. Her remarks were so extreme that she was removed from a Donald Trump fundraiser, though she attributed her exclusion to unrelated factors.

Beyond her antisemitic stance, Owens expresses hostility towards various groups, including Muslims and the transgender community. Surprisingly, she has also criticized movements that support racial equality, even making claims that the Black Lives Matter initiative promotes “black anarchy” and denies the impact of white supremacy in the struggles faced by Black Americans. Additionally, she propagated conspiracy theories related to the COVID pandemic, further underlining her controversial positions.

Owens’ proposed tour of Australia was presented as a platform for individuals “pursuing alternative perspectives.” Promotional materials described her events as “provocative” and “controversial” —but these terms merely mask the underlying issue: Owens aims to exacerbate divisions in society, much like her ally, Donald Trump.

Planned cities for her Australian tour included Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane, but thankfully, these locations will not have to contend with her influence. It remains puzzling how her events garnered any interest, particularly after she suggested that the United States should invade Australia during the pandemic to liberate oppressed citizens from supportive public health measures—policies that greatly aligned with the majority opinion of Australians.

The Anti-Defamation Commission, a Jewish-Australian organization, expressed satisfaction with the decision to prevent Owens from entering the country. Dvir Abramovich, the commission’s chairman, remarked to ABC News that this refusal was “a triumph for truth,” adding, “There is no room in Australia for individuals who belittle the suffering of genocide survivors and disrespect the memories of the six million Jewish lives lost. This establishes a clear boundary.”

While Owens has yet to respond to her visa refusal, her substantial audience will likely hear her lamentations about censorship and free speech shortly.

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