It only took seven words for Kanye West's Twitter return to go from philosophical tweets into the land of politically trending topics: "I love the way Candace Owens thinks." West tweeted.
West's now viral tweet — which has spawned an incredible amount of discussion about the rapper, his political views and his mental health — seems to have been made in specific reference to Candace Owens' appearance at a Turning Point USA panel at UCLA discussing Black Lives Matter. Owens is the director of urban engagement at Turning Point USA, according to Essence.
During the panel, Owens said that black Americans need to move from "victim mentality" to "victor mentality," and argued that black Americans need to spend more energy building brighter futures.
Kanye's tweet had not been posted more than a few minutes before he was flogged with the infamous phrase "sunken place." Owens' name jumped from the political circles, in which she is well know, onto the public's radar.
I’m freaking out. @kanyewest ….please take a meeting with me. I tell every single person that everything that I have been inspired to do, was written in your music.
I am my own biggest fan, because you made it okay. I need you to help wake up the black community. https://t.co/Uz1nB9K0Oz— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 21, 2018
This is why I love @KimKardashian She NEVER goes against the family and she has a vision for the future. RETWEET if you can see her as #FirstLady2024.
(In 2024 I will revisit this tweet to see who doubted the possibility) https://t.co/SI8XLlRhCq— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 25, 2018
But, who is Candace Owens exactly? For those the curious, we've corralled a few facts!
Owens has made waves as a YouTube vlogger, gaining attention for criticizing Black Lives Matter and for making controversial videos such as her The Myth of a Coon series and Black Panther: A Pro-Trump Movie.
Her channel is called "The Red Pill Black," a reference of the truth pill famously touted in the The Matrix, according to Townhall.
Her videos have some calling her the "next Tomi Lahren," according to Complex.
Owens is most certainly a Trump supporter; so much so, she trumped the president's self-proclaimed "leader of the free world" descriptor by calling him a savior.
I truly believe that @realDonaldTrump isn’t just the leader of the free world, but the savior of it as well.
May God bless America— the last stand for western civilization.— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 17, 2018
She's definitely not into socialism and decries any assistance "big government" might provide:
Far right? Allow me to clarify: I believe the black community can do it without hand-outs. I believe the Democrats have strapped us to our past to prevent us from our futures. And I won’t stop fighting until all black Americans see that.
I’m not far right—I’m free. pic.twitter.com/wtqCuYPtM2— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 21, 2018
Owens received support from conservatives and conservative-leaning media outlets such as Fox News:
To shed more light on the hypocrisy, Owens’ family once sued the Stamford Board of Education in federal court, according to Newstimes, claiming the city didn’t protect her rights after she was racially bulled by teenagers at her high school. The lawsuit reportedly accused the city of "failing to act in part because one of the callers is the son of Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy." She eventually received $37,500 to settle the case.
Of course, Owens is aware of her numerous critics, but that does not stop her from doubling down on her antics.
"You can feel free to call me an Uncle Tom. You can feel free to call me an Auntie Tom. It does not affect me," she has said. "Do you want to know why? Because I actually read the book. Uncle Tom was the hero."
