Candace Owens, right-wing commentator and Trump supporter, went on the defensive after the suspect in the New Zealand mosques mass killings publicly named her as his biggest influence in a 87-page manifesto.
In the online document, Brenton Tarrant wrote, “Yes, the person that has influenced me above all was Candace Owens,” in response to the question, “Is there a particular person that radicalized you the most?” He continued, “Each time she spoke I was stunned by her insights and her own views helped push me further and further into the belief of violence over meekness. Though I will have to disavow some of her beliefs, the extreme actions she calls for me are too much, even for my tastes.”
Gawker co-founder, Elizabeth Spiers, noted many “sarcastic” passages in the document and suggested that Owens’ mentioning may have been “trolling.”
However, Owens still responded in a series of tweets.
“LOL! ???? FACT: I’ve never created any content espousing my views on the 2nd Amendment or Islam,” she wrote. “The Left pretending I inspired a mosque massacre in…New Zealand because I believe black America can do it without government hand outs is the reachiest reach of all reaches!! LOL!”
She continued, “HAHA OMG you racist Leftists are taking your racism and crazy to a whole new level hahah. Black people don’t have to be Democrats” now means…mosque shootings in New Zealand? This clearly won’t stick but damn if I won’t grow #BLEXIT highlighting your sheer desperation. ????????”
In another tweet, she wrote, “To be clear: We played the ‘Candace is Hitler’ game. We played the ‘Candace is anti-rape victims’ game. If the media attempts this ‘Candace inspired a mosque shooting in New Zealand’ bit—they better all lawyer the f*ck up. I will go full Covington Catholic lawsuit. Try me.”
who is this ” DERANGED” uncle tom????.,