Anti-Israel conservative influencer Candace Owens was denied entry into Australia yesterday when a court rejected her challenge to a visa denial last year.
The American’s lawyers argued that the visa rejection “unjustifiably burdens” freedom of political communication as she was planning a speaking tour of Australia.
But the Australian High Court said that the restriction is for a legitimate reason allowed by the Constitution (like protecting national security or public safety).
Owens’ visa was originally refused by Immigration Minister Tony Burke last October, who warned that she could “incite discord in the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community.”
Burke found it was in the national interest to refuse Owens a visa.
He said Owens had a history of making “extremist and inflammatory comments” toward Muslims, Blacks and Jews, among others and that there was a risk that her “controversial views [would] amplify grievances among communities and lead to increased hostility and violent or radical action” if she were allowed into Australia to express those views.
New Zealand also denied her a visa in 2024, citing Australia’s denial.
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From Israel supporter to critic
Candace Owens has undergone a noticeable shift in her public stance toward Israel, particularly since the October 7, 2023 attacks.
She frames Israel’s actions in Gaza as morally indefensible (e.g., “genocide,” “indiscriminate murder”), questions its democratic status, and accuses it of undue influence on U.S. politics and media.
This rhetoric often intertwines with broader critiques of Zionism and Jewish influence, which critics like the ADL and StopAntisemitism classify as “antisemitic.”
Early in her career, she aligned with mainstream conservative pro-Israel positions. However, by late 2023 and into 2024–2025, her rhetoric has escalated into sharp criticism of Israel and accusations of war crimes.
This evolution contributed to her departure from the pro-Israel The Daily Wire in March 2024 amid internal disputes over her comments.
From October to November 2023, she hosted Israel critic Norman Finkelstein on her podcast, criticised Florida’s removal of pro-Palestine groups from campuses, and accused Israel of “genocide” in Gaza while referencing a “sinister” Jewish influence in Hollywood and Washington.
In January 2024, she questioned “Jewish tunnels” in New York, which Zionists decried as a conspiracy-laden topic tied to antisemitic narratives.
By June and July 2024, Owens criticised the Antisemitism Awareness Act as violating free speech, claimed the holocaust was used to enforce moral support for Israel, and on Piers Morgan’s show called Israel a “terrorist state” committing “genocide” and a “holocaust” against Gaza civilians.
From October to December 2025, Owens criticised “Israel’s demonic actions,” claimed Israel has a “bloodlust like no other,” accepted an “Antisemite of the Year” award ironically (arguing it’s a smear against Gaza war critics), and promoted theories linking Israel’s origins to a “cult” of pedophiles.
Owens also has a complex and evolving relationship with Islam and Muslims.
While she has faced widespread accusations of Islamophobia — particularly in her earlier career — her more recent statements show a rejection of anti-Muslim prejudice.
Owens’ early commentary (pre-2023) often aligned with anti-Islam tropes common in conservative circles.
In 2019, following the Christchurch mosque shootings, Owens was cited in the shooter’s manifesto as an influence, prompting her to announce plans to “host a Muslim that has defected from the religion” to discuss Islam — framed by critics as a tokenistic response to her documented Islamophobic tweets, including support for Trump’s “Muslim ban.”
In 2021, she defended Rep. Lauren Boebert’s use of “jihadist” to describe Rep. Ilhan Omar.
That same year, she compared Democrats’ rhetoric on Trump supporters to ISIS tactics.
Owens has since publicly apologised for past biases and positioned herself as an ally against Islamophobia in certain contexts.
A shift appeared in 2023–2024 when Owens posted a direct message to her “Jewish and Muslim friends,” rejecting attempts to “thug me into hating Muslims” and sharing out-of-context clips to force support for foreign wars.
She has criticised “Islamophobia” explicitly and publicly apologised for her post-9/11 views, admitting as an 11-year-old she absorbed messaging that “every Muslim was a terrorist.” She called it “damaging” and reflective of broader fear-mongering.
