Far-right commentator and conspiracy theorist Candace Owens will not be speaking in Australia as initially planned after her visa application was rejected due to concerns over her history of inflammatory and divisive statements. The decision was confirmed by Australian immigration minister Tony Burke, who cited Owens’ controversial rhetoric as grounds for the denial.
“From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust with comments about [Nazi physician Josef] Mengele to making false claims that Muslims started slavery, Candace Owens has the capacity to incite discord in almost every direction,” Burke, a member of the center-left Labor government, told local media. He added, “Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else.”
The visa denial follows mounting calls for Owens to be barred from entering the country, with the center-right Liberal Party’s shadow immigration minister, Dan Tehan, advocating in August for her exclusion on character grounds. He argued that allowing her entry would facilitate the spread of “hateful messages” in the community.
The controversy around Owens’ scheduled tour gained traction in July after she made contentious remarks on her podcast, suggesting that the horrific experiments conducted by Nazi physician Josef Mengele on twins during the Holocaust were exaggerated, labeling them as “bizarre propaganda.” Her comments sparked outrage from Jewish communities and human rights organizations, who accused her of Holocaust distortion and hate speech.
Owens’ speaking tour was set to commence on November 17, with appearances planned in major cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide. The tour was promoted as an “electrifying evening” where she would deliver “raw and unfiltered commentary” on political and cultural issues. Tickets for the events were priced from around $63 USD for general admission to nearly $990 for an exclusive pre-show dinner and meet-and-greet.
The rejection of Owens’ visa has been met with support from several civil rights organizations, including the Anti-Defamation Commission, an Australian civil rights group that advocated for her ban. The organization’s chairman, Dvir Abramovich, described the decision as a “victory for truth.” He remarked, “Australia has no place for those who mock the suffering of genocide survivors and insult the memories of the 6 million Jews who perished.”
This is not the first time Owens has faced backlash over controversial statements. Earlier this year, she parted ways with The Daily Wire after a series of public disagreements with co-founder Ben Shapiro over her antisemitic views. Her departure came amid criticism for promoting conspiracy theories, including inflammatory allegations about Jewish people.
While Owens is scheduled to speak in Auckland, New Zealand, on November 14, officials there are reportedly still assessing her visa application. As of now, she has not commented publicly on the Australian government’s decision to deny her entry.
Credit: The Hill
