Far-right media personality Candace Owens is known for broadcasting wildly unpopular and even harmful opinions. She's railed against Black Lives Matter, transgender people, and lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines. She's heaped praise on former President Donald Trump and made some disturbingly kind comments about Adolf Hitler.
Though Owens' rhetoric is revolting to swaths of people, she still makes money from the adoration of primarily white conservatives and conspiracy theorists—with more than four million Instagram followers, three million Twitter followers and 500+ thousand YouTube subscribers.
So people were surprised at Owens' take about the Super Bowl halftime show last week, when hip hop legends Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem gave a rousing rundown of all their greatest hits.
Conservatives balked. Trump's former White House press secretary Sean Spicer expressed confusion about what its "message" was supposed to be. Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk said the performance amounted to "sexual anarchy." Deranged host for right-wing disinformation outlet Newsmax, Greg Kelly, urged viewers to boycott the performance. Far-right author and Trump sycophant Nick Adams called the show "godless" and the performers "hoodlums."
But Owens? She loved it.
This is an excellent Super Bowl halftime performance.
Undeniable hip-hop and R&B excellence.
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) February 14, 2022
"This is an excellent Super Bowl halftime performance," the right-wing pundit wrote. "Undeniable hip-hop and R&B excellence."
Her conservative followers weren't happy.
Didn’t watch a minute of that woke ass garbage https://t.co/YaSzJu5dlI
— Kyle Rittenhouse Sr (@sr_rittenhouse) February 14, 2022
This...is....the....worst.
— Doro Stubbs (@DoroGS) February 14, 2022
Worst halftime show I’ve ever seen. We just turned the volume off and visited a while. And, no diversity. I love you Candace but this was a poor show 🏈🏈
— MAVS Rule (@001mdan) February 14, 2022
I’m really glad you enjoyed it I certainly didn’t I should have turned it off really it’s not my music preference !! I’m sure that many people in the USA don’t really listen to that kind of blah blah blah not music
— Enrique Xiques (@EnriqueXiques) February 14, 2022
🇺🇸 clinging on to a bunch of dinosaurs to perform at half-time Superbowl. What a sad state affairs the American music industry has become.
— Tater Bengal 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 (@TaterBengal) February 14, 2022
Didn’t understand one word........for which I’m thankful.
— David G. (@dcgena) February 14, 2022
Candace's critics were surprised to find themselves in agreement, but also pointed out the comments of her followers.
So... @RealCandaceO - these comments don't tell you that the ONLY reason these people tolerate you is BECAUSE you validate their hatred of black people? You don't see that they're TOTALLY pissed that you actually co-signed something AA? Of course you know, you'll take the money!
— Carrington Lei (@CarringtonLei) February 14, 2022
pic.twitter.com/j0tUiRsI6F
— SeditionSleuth (@SeditionSleuth) February 14, 2022
Sometimes you get it right. This is one of them.
But your fanbase despises this music.
— Mahli (@MalissanaW) February 14, 2022
@bradley.brown.7355/Facebook
@jonathan.d.thomas.3/Facebook
@WrnrG/Facebook
@mike.elam.919426/Facebook
@MaryBenedict/Facebook
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@reelmfishman/Instagram
@TomiLahren/X