Candace Owens Refutes Hoax, Reopens Kirk Killing Debate

A false social media post claiming the death of conservative commentator Candace Owens spread rapidly online on June -, 2026, prompting widespread confusion and concern before being debunked by Owens herself. The commentator used her public response to reignite a separate, longstanding controversy regarding the 2025 assassination of fellow commentator Charlie Kirk.

The rumor originated from a post on the verified X account of influencer and podcaster Lilly Gaddis. The message, which was later deleted, claimed that Owens’s family had informed Gaddis of her passing and suggested there were unanswered questions surrounding the circumstances, also referencing Kirk’s death. Screenshots of the alleged post circulated widely, leading many users to question Owens’s safety and whereabouts.

Owens directly addressed the speculation on June 20, writing on X, “Thank you all for the messages of concern but I am not dead.” She added, “If I were, it would be entirely appropriate for you to have blamed Israel.” In the same post, she made a sarcastic remark suggesting that Kirk, before his death, was not concerned about being killed by a “transgendered furry” but was instead focused on “arguing...