Candace Owens: Global Lawsuits, Rebranding, and the Price of Controversy

Candace Owens BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Candace Owens remains at the center of global controversy this week as French President Emmanuel Macron, in a wide-ranging interview with Paris Match and later reported by The Independent, explained why he and First Lady Brigitte Macron have formally sued Owens for defamation. The suit, filed last month in Delaware, alleges that Owens waged a relentless smear campaign by propagating the conspiracy theory that Brigitte Macron was born male, a claim Owens has featured extensively in her podcast “Becoming Brigitte.” The Macrons cite not only reputational harm but also accuse Owens of deliberate misinformation and self-promotion, while Macron vowed to see the legal fight through on principle. In her response, Owens cast herself as a crusader for free speech, insisting she was “fully prepared to take on this battle” and suggesting the Macrons were waging war on American First Amendment rights. Complicating matters, Owens told Tucker Carlson that Donald Trump allegedly called her personally at Macron’s behest, telling her to ease up on the claims—though Trump himself reportedly found the whole affair baffling, saying of Brigitte “I saw her up close and she looks like a woman to me,” calling further attention to the surreal international dimensions of the drama.

Business and media activity continue in the Owens orbit. On August 20, Piers Morgan Uncensored released a compilation of her most heated debate moments with Morgan, spotlighting her ability to thrive in controversy and seldom retreat even under pressure. Social media tracking shows Owens and her family prepping for fall activities, highlighted in an August 21 post featuring the #blackfamily tag, a nod to her persistent use of family and identity themes to engage her audience. MediaMatters reported Owens lashing out at Donald Trump in a recent post, attacking him for “letting go of the Jeffrey Epstein story” and accusing him of yielding to the “deep state,” signaling persistent tensions between Owens and her former conservative allies.

Meanwhile, there is emerging commentary on a noticeable shift in her outreach strategy. TheGrio's Monique Judge argues Owens is now courting Black audiences, appearing on platforms hosted by Black men such as Charlamagne and Joe Budden, which is described as a rebranding move after backlash in more traditional conservative circles. Judge, however, is deeply skeptical, suggesting this is more opportunistic than sincere, further noting Owens’ repeated cultural gaffes in recent interviews as diminishing her credibility with Black audiences.

Owens’ public biography remains defined by turbulence. After her high-profile exit from The Daily Wire in March 2024 following a string of highly criticized remarks, she persists as an outspoken figure in conservative media, targeting both her adversaries and former allies while leveraging controversy as currency. With an ongoing international lawsuit, public and political feuds, and a visible recalibration of her media approach, the past few days have reinforced her reputation as both provocateur and lightning rod—potentially impacting her legacy in ways that will echo beyond this news cycle.

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