An online magazine marketed to African Americans says political commentator Candace Owens should not talk about Black Culture.
The Root published an opinion piece from Candace McDuffie, which advised Owens, who is African American, to “stop speaking” about African Americans’ behaviors and described her as “anti-Black.” McDuffie cited Owen’s appearance on “The Joe Budden Podcast” which was released on March 15.
“Why did Budden feel to need to ask Owens’ opinion on Black culture when she has vehemently made a career out of anti-Blackness?” asked the writer.
During the episode, Owens was critical of several black female performers, including Lizzo, Sexyy Red, and Ice Spice, and discussed the decline of hip-hop.
“I just don’t need to hear about Ice Spice’s farts,” she said in one segment. “We used to produce really good music and it’s gone down the drain. I think even that is intentional.”
“I think that is because it is a part of the ‘let’s slowly modify the education system so that black people can’t read at the same time feed them with a pipeline of garbage’ and you will wake up one day and what surrounds you will be garbage,” said Owens.
She said black people are being trained to “honor their filth” and to “defend it.”
“Now we’re at a place where we don’t even just produce it – we defend it,” She continued. “We’re like ‘That’s black culture.’ No, it’s not. When did you grow up? That’s not the black culture I grew up with.”
In her op-ed, McDuffie said Owens “saved most of her disdain for the Black artists themselves—not the systems that inhibit them.”
“This has always been the way Owens chooses to operate since she built and sustains her following by championing white supremacist ideology,” wrote McDuffie. “Quite frankly, she will never support or uplift Black culture because she has too much invested in doing the opposite.”
“Owens will always disparage Black folks every chance she gets—Budden should have known better,” the author added.
McDuffie later wrote an article for The Root covering Lizzo’s response to Owen’s remarks. Other publications created for black Americans have criticized Owens in the past. The Grio, which describes itself as “the largest Black newsroom in America,” published an opinion piece in April 2023 saying Owens made her carer by “being anti-Black and aiding white supremacy.” In a different opinion piece, writer Candice Marie Benbow said Owens “can’t think and wear a pantsuit at the same time.”
The Washington Informer, which says it serves “the African-American community — families, neighborhoods, businesses, people of faith and more — in the DMV,” said in January that Owens “has a history of spreading misinformation.”
Owens was praised by others for her appearance on Joe Budden’s podcast.
“…i know i’m supposed to dislike candace owens…but this ‘humans’ interview w joe budden isn’t providing me w reasoning,” said one X user.
“I ain’t gone front, I agree with [Budden] I kinda fuck with Candice Owens. She dgaf about nothing y’all talking about… what an interview,” wrote another.
“This Candace Owens Got The Streets GoING CRAZYYYY,” said a third person.
