Timeline That Led To Candace Owens' Daily Wire Departure

Daily Wire CEO Jeremy Boreing announced on Thursday that the company parted ways with Candace Owens. 

Owens, who joined the company in 2021, has since acknowledged the news. "The rumors are true— I am finally free," she posted on X.

While newsworthy, Owens' departure is hardly a surprise. She's had public tensions with Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro for months, stemming from their conflicting perspectives on how Israel should handle the war in Gaza.

In November, an attendee at one of Shapiro's speeches uploaded a video to X in which Shapiro called Owens' coverage of the war "disreputable."

"The question is about Candace Owens," said Shapiro at the start of the video. "I think her behavior during this has been disgraceful, without a doubt.

"I think that her faux sophistication on these particular issues has been ridiculous," continued Shapiro.

It is unclear if Shapiro knew someone was recording him on stage or whether the video captured the extent of his comments regarding Owens.

Days later, Owens appeared on Tucker Carlson's podcast where she said Shapiro's comments about her spoke volumes about his own "character." 

She then responded with a cryptic message on social media saying, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other."

She concluded, "You cannot serve both God and money."

At that point, Shapiro told her to "quit" if she believed working at the Daily Wire interferes in her relationship with God:

Both Owens and Shapiro have stated that he does not have the executive power to "fire" her from the company. 

My read: while technically true, Shapiro is not an executive at the company – he's an equity holder; the biggest star at the company; and the CEO, Boreing, is his best friend. 

Shapiro had the influence to force her out of the company. He didn't. 

He's open about encouraging his co-workers to disagree with him, a point Owens acknowledged.

Thus, it's unlikely Shapiro was the catalyst behind her exit this week. Owens, based on her post, wanted out. And it would seem as if she were daring the company to let her out of her contract for weeks.

She reportedly claimed this month that "secret Jewish gangs" terrorize Hollywood and favored a tweet claiming Jews drink the blood of Christians.

Looking ahead, both Owens and the Daily Wire will be fine. There's no loser in the breakup.

DW is one of the leading independent media brands in the industry, from its podcast network to its Daily Wire+ subscription service featuring original documentaries and conservative-leading children's content. "

"The Ben Shapiro Show" is the most popular conservative podcast in the country.  The podcast network also includes Matt Walsh and Michael Knowles.

Meanwhile, Owens will have suitors. Rumble and X first come to mind. 

But she has a large enough audience that she can monetize her content into the seven figures (perhaps eight; see Steven Crowder) on her own, fully independent.

For now, Owens' content will move to her Locals page.

Ben Shapiro has not addressed Candace Owens' departure, as of publication.