Candace Owens' Hollywood Tabloid Pivot feat. Bridget Todd
Mar 11, 2025
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Bridget Todd, a journalist and podcaster, dives into Candace Owens' controversial pivot from progressivism to a key figure in right-wing media. They discuss how Owens uses celebrity scandal to rebrand herself for mainstream audiences. The conversation reveals the complex relationship between celebrity culture and politics, alongside insights into identities shaped by financial motives and public feuds. Todd also highlights the rise of a black journalist breaking barriers in mainstream media, bridging divides through her commentary on current events.
Candace Owens has strategically shifted her focus from political commentary to celebrity scandals, broadening her audience and engagement.
Her past transformation from a critic of conservatives to a significant figure in right-wing media highlights her controversial alignment for personal gain.
Owens' current content often veils extremist ideologies within entertaining narratives, raising concerns about the normalization of harmful viewpoints among casual listeners.
Deep dives
Candace Owens: A Chameleon in Politics
Candace Owens has been a polarizing figure in the political landscape, transforming her views from progressive to conservative seemingly overnight. Initially known for her critical stance on Republican antics, she shifted to support right-wing ideologies, gaining prominence through her association with controversial figures and organizations. Her pivot began around the Gamergate controversy, where she claimed to be a victim of online harassment, leading her to embrace conservative viewpoints and identify herself with a red-pilled narrative. This abrupt change highlights her strategic alignment with right-wing audiences, allowing her to capture attention and monetize her platform effectively.
The Rise of Owens' Media Presence
Owens gained significant traction as she transitioned from blogging to becoming a prominent face within right-wing media platforms, particularly through her viral YouTube videos and her association with Daily Wire. Her content often revolves around incendiary debates and provocative claims, capturing the attention of both supporters and critics alike. Notably, her discussions surrounding high-profile events, such as the Unite the Right rally, positioned her as a notable figure in conservative discourse, which ultimately led to her ongoing partnership with influential conservative organizations. This period marked the beginning of her ability to leverage controversial topics for personal gain and wider recognition.
The Fallout with Daily Wire
Owens' association with Daily Wire reached a climax amidst public disputes with its co-founder Ben Shapiro, particularly over her increasingly anti-Semitic comments following the conflict in Gaza. As tensions escalated, her aggressive stance on various issues became a public spectacle, resulting in a messy fallout that ended their professional relationship. Rather than backing down, Owens continued her confrontational approach, utilizing social media for public disputes and criticisms of her former colleagues. This move not only illustrated her willingness to embrace controversy but also highlighted the underlying tensions within the conservative media landscape.
Owens' Shift to Celebrity Commentary
Recently, Candace Owens has successfully pivoted her focus towards celebrity news, specifically her detailed coverage of the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni dispute. This strategic shift has broadened her audience, attracting listeners outside of her traditional conservative base, allowing her to engage with a more diverse demographic. Her ability to analyze celebrity culture and exploit societal dynamics has led to a substantial increase in her viewership, even garnering attention from more casual audiences who previously may have overlooked her political rhetoric. This transition underscores her adaptability and understanding of digital media landscape trends.
The Dangerous Underpinnings of Celebrity Coverage
Owens' current exploration of celebrity controversies serves as a gateway for introducing her extremist viewpoints to a less politically engaged audience. While she presents herself as a mere commentator, her commentary often contains undertones of misogyny and conspiracy theories, potentially influencing her audience's perceptions of women and marginalized groups. As her content gains popularity, there is a growing concern that she is normalizing harmful ideologies by masking them in entertainment-focused narratives. This manipulation of celebrity news to further extremist content represents a significant threat as her platform continues to grow among unsuspecting viewers.
Bridget Todd talks with Gare about how disgraced Daily Wire podcaster Candace Owens is using a celebrity scandal to rebrand her conservative politics for a normie audience.
