The life and career of Candace Owens, the Black conservative activist who attacked Black Lives Matter and said George Floyd was 'not a good person'

Grace Panetta,Ashley CollmanJun 13, 2020, 17:25 IST

Activist Candace Owens speaks to guests at the 148th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits on April 26, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Scott Olson/Getty

Right-wing activist Candace Owens recently resurfaced in the news for criticizing the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd's death.
Owens is a conservative commentator who has been gaining prominence in recent years for her controversial views.
She has also gained a fan in President Trump.
Here's a timeline of her early life and career.

Candace Owens, a 31-year-old Black conservative commentator, resurfaced in national news in recent days for attacking George Floyd's character and the Black Lives Matter protests.

On June 3, Owens posted a video criticizing the Black community for making a "martyr" out of Floyd, while pointing out his various arrests over the years.

She has made a name for herself in recent years among the far right by sharing her opinions on politics on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

She's made a fan out of President Donald Trump, and founded the "Blexit" movement — to encourage Black Americans to ditch their historic ties with the Democratic Party.

Here's a look at Owens' life and career so far, and how she rose to be a star on America's right.

Owens was born in 1990 in Stamford, Connecticut. She studied journalism at the University of Rhode Island, but dropped out after her junior year due to a student loan issue.

In 2010, she worked at Vogue magazine, and in 2012, joined a private-equity company in New York City.

Owens speaking in a 2018 video titled "Playing the Black Card." YouTube

In 2016, she started a website called SocialAutopsy.com, which identified and exposed online bullies. She said she made the site after experiencing racialized bullying and harassment in high school.

Owens speaks at the Center for the American Experiment Lunch Forum in May 2018. YouTube

In 2016, she started a website called SocialAutopsy.com, which identified and exposed online bullies. She said she made the site after experiencing racialized bullying and harassment in high school.

Her rise to fame in the far-right world started in 2017, when she founded her YouTube channel. In her videos, he criticizes the Democratic Party, the Black Lives Matter movement, feminism, and expresses support for President Donald Trump.

In this video, Owens criticizes the concept of "white guilt." YouTube

Her rise to fame in the far-right world started in 2017, when she founded her YouTube channel. In her videos, he criticizes the Democratic Party, the Black Lives Matter movement, feminism, and expresses support for President Donald Trump.

She also opposes gun control, and referred to the #MeToo movement as a "political witch hunt." She even questioned the validity of climate change in an interview with Joe Rogan.

Candace Owens John Haltiwanger/INSIDER

She also opposes gun control, and referred to the #MeToo movement as a "political witch hunt." She even questioned the validity of climate change in an interview with Joe Rogan.

In 2018, she started the "Blexit" movement, a campaign to encourage African-Americans to end their historical allegiance to the Democratic Party.

Owens speaks at CPAC 2019 in March 2019. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Between 2017 and 2019, she also served as communications director for Turning Point USA, a conservative, pro-Trump non-profit.

Owens testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing to discuss hate crimes and the rise of white nationalism on Capitol Hill on April 9, 2019. Zach Gibson/Getty

In 2019, she married George Farmer, the son of a British Conservative Party peer. Their wedding was held at Trump Winery in Virginia and attended by Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.

Owens' tweets reveal many of her conservative opinions on the state of Black America, the Democratic Party, and her support for Trump.

Owens is a frequent guest on Fox News, often discussing ways in which she thinks the Democratic Party is failing Black Americans.

Owens' appearances on Fox News. YouTube

Owens' advocacy has earned her attention and praise from Trump himself. The president has invited her to multiple White House events in recent years.

In 2018, rapper Kanye West tweeted "I love the way Candace Owens thinks" — though he has since distanced himself from her.

Trump and West stand in the lobby at Trump Tower in December 2016 in New York City. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

In 2020, Owens has been in hot water for spreading coronavirus conspiracy theories on Twitter, including saying that hospitals and states were inflating the death toll for financial gain.

Candace Owens attends a summit in Atlanta, Georgia in September 2019. Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Revolt

In 2020, Owens has been in hot water for spreading coronavirus conspiracy theories on Twitter, including saying that hospitals and states were inflating the death toll for financial gain.

And in June 3, Owens recorded a Facebook video critical of George Floyd and the protests in the wake of his death.

Facebook

Later that day, she went on Glenn Beck's radio show and expounded on her opinion, saying "George Floyd was not a good person" and "the fact that he has been held up as a martyr sickens me."

Blaze TV

Later that day, she went on Glenn Beck's radio show and expounded on her opinion, saying "George Floyd was not a good person" and "the fact that he has been held up as a martyr sickens me."

She also started a GoFundMe campaign for an Alabama business whose co-owner was widely criticized for calling Floyd a "thug." GoFundMe later kicked her off the platform, saying she violated its policies.

Candace Owens laughs during a Black Leadership Summit at the White House on October 4, 2019. Chip Somodevilla/Getty

She also started a GoFundMe campaign for an Alabama business whose co-owner was widely criticized for calling Floyd a "thug." GoFundMe later kicked her off the platform, saying she violated its policies.

What's next for Owens? A book, apparently. "Blackout: How Black America Can Make Its Second Escape from the Democrat Plantation" is expected to publish in September 2020.

Threshold Editions

What's next for Owens? A book, apparently. "Blackout: How Black America Can Make Its Second Escape from the Democrat Plantation" is expected to publish in September 2020.

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The life and career of Candace Owens, the Black conservative activist who attacked Black Lives Matter and said George Floyd was 'not a good person'

Owens was born in 1990 in Stamford, Connecticut. She studied journalism at the University of Rhode Island, but dropped out after her junior year due to a student loan issue.

In 2010, she worked at Vogue magazine, and in 2012, joined a private-equity company in New York City.

In 2016, she started a website called SocialAutopsy.com, which identified and exposed online bullies. She said she made the site after experiencing racialized bullying and harassment in high school.

Her rise to fame in the far-right world started in 2017, when she founded her YouTube channel. In her videos, he criticizes the Democratic Party, the Black Lives Matter movement, feminism, and expresses support for President Donald Trump.

She also opposes gun control, and referred to the #MeToo movement as a "political witch hunt." She even questioned the validity of climate change in an interview with Joe Rogan.

In 2018, she started the "Blexit" movement, a campaign to encourage African-Americans to end their historical allegiance to the Democratic Party.

Between 2017 and 2019, she also served as communications director for Turning Point USA, a conservative, pro-Trump non-profit.

In 2019, she married George Farmer, the son of a British Conservative Party peer. Their wedding was held at Trump Winery in Virginia and attended by Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.

Owens' tweets reveal many of her conservative opinions on the state of Black America, the Democratic Party, and her support for Trump.

Owens is a frequent guest on Fox News, often discussing ways in which she thinks the Democratic Party is failing Black Americans.

Owens' advocacy has earned her attention and praise from Trump himself. The president has invited her to multiple White House events in recent years.

In 2018, rapper Kanye West tweeted "I love the way Candace Owens thinks" — though he has since distanced himself from her.

In 2020, Owens has been in hot water for spreading coronavirus conspiracy theories on Twitter, including saying that hospitals and states were inflating the death toll for financial gain.

And in June 3, Owens recorded a Facebook video critical of George Floyd and the protests in the wake of his death.

Later that day, she went on Glenn Beck's radio show and expounded on her opinion, saying "George Floyd was not a good person" and "the fact that he has been held up as a martyr sickens me."

She also started a GoFundMe campaign for an Alabama business whose co-owner was widely criticized for calling Floyd a "thug." GoFundMe later kicked her off the platform, saying she violated its policies.

What's next for Owens? A book, apparently. "Blackout: How Black America Can Make Its Second Escape from the Democrat Plantation" is expected to publish in September 2020.