Candace Owens faces fresh scrutiny amid internal conservative rifts and ongoing legal fights

Candace Owens has entered February with her media brand driving multiple, overlapping storylines: a public fight tied to leadership turmoil at a major conservative youth group, and a still-active defamation case filed by French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron. The mix is keeping Owens in the headlines as she continues to publish frequent commentary and dispute claims made about her work and motives.

A renewed feud inside the right

In recent episodes of her show, Owens has intensified criticisms aimed at figures connected to Turning Point USA and its current leadership. The flashpoint centers on alleged internal communications and the fallout that followed the September 2025 assassination of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist associated with the organization.

Owens has portrayed recent disputes as evidence of a wider effort to pressure or marginalize her within conservative media circles. Some of her claims are not publicly confirmed, and the organization has not released a comprehensive public response addressing each allegation.

Leaked-audio claims add fuel

A second strand involves alleged leaked audio tied to an internal meeting involving Erika Kirk and staff shortly after her husband’s death. Owens has framed the audio as relevant to questions about how the organization handled the immediate aftermath of the assassination and how it managed staff, fundraising, and public messaging.

The authenticity and full context of the recording are not independently confirmed in public records, but the release has amplified tensions and brought fresh attention to broader arguments about loyalty, influence, and accountability inside the conservative movement.

“Cease and desist” rhetoric and legal posturing

Owens has also leaned into what she has called a “lawsuit era,” describing receipt of legal threats and warnings tied to content disputes. The details of those disputes—what precise statements are challenged and what remedies are sought—are not consistently documented in publicly available filings, and it is unclear which threats will develop into formal cases.

Even without new court actions, the legal framing is shaping how her audience views the conflict: less as a personality clash, more as a contest over reputational damage, business interests, and control of narratives inside a crowded media ecosystem.

The Macron defamation case remains a major overhang

Separate from the internal conservative rifts, Owens is still facing a defamation lawsuit filed in Delaware by Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron. Court records show the case was filed on July 23, 2025, and remains active.

The lawsuit raises higher-stakes questions than typical creator disputes, because it involves a sitting head of state and claims about a public figure’s personal identity. The outcome could affect how aggressively Owens and similar commentators pursue claims about prominent individuals, particularly when allegations cross into assertions that courts may treat as verifiable fact rather than opinion.

Travel restrictions and event cancellations still ripple

Owens’ international speaking plans have also been constrained. Australia’s High Court upheld the government’s decision to deny her a visa on character grounds, citing concerns that her presence could “incite discord” in the community. That decision has continued to shape how venues and organizers assess risk in other countries, with at least one announced New Zealand event later canceled.

These travel developments matter to Owens’ business model because live events can be a significant revenue stream and a way to convert online attention into ticket sales and memberships.

What comes next

Several near-term signals will shape the next phase of the story:

• Whether Turning Point USA or its leaders issue more detailed public rebuttals to Owens’ claims

• Any new docket activity in the Delaware defamation case, including scheduling orders and motions

• Additional event announcements—or cancellations—outside the United States

• Signs that legal threats tied to her content become formal lawsuits

As of 9:00 AM ET on Feb. 10, 2026, the biggest open question is not Owens’ ability to generate attention, but whether the legal and organizational pressures around her will narrow the space she has to operate—or simply push her further into conflict-driven programming.

Sources consulted: Associated Press, PBS NewsHour, Fortune, High Court of Australia (judgment summary), Delaware Courts docket records