ADL, Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

Candace Owens defended herself against accusations of anti-semitism on Thursday, claiming that she had been targeted for standing up to a “network of smears” after the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) shared an article accusing Owens of supporting bigotry against the Jews.

The article concerned the controversial political pundit and live streamer Nick Fuentes, an outspoken critic of the Jewish people and culture, whose various controversies have resulted in his banning from every mainstream social media platform. The article cites several instances of Fuentes expressing enthusiasm for Owens' public comments.

The ADL shared this article on X, writing, “White supremacist & Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes is praising Candace Owens' vitriolic antisemitism. It's hardly surprising, but it does set off alarm bells: When bigoted people come together to push an antisemitic agenda, it adds fuel to the fire of hate.”

Owens responded to these remarks, vigorously defending herself and denying any particular acquaintance with Fuentes.

“I do not know Nick Fuentes, but you already know that,” Owens wrote. “What I do know is that everyone can see what you guys are doing to me. Your pattern is well established and the world is waking up to it.”

“My crime is having stood up for myself against your network of smears,” she added.

Fuentes has emerged as a leading right-wing critic of Israel, and his condemnations of Jewish religion and political culture have only intensified since the start of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas. Fuentes' controversial views have resulted in his banning from X, which he claims demonstrates a double standard pertaining to criticisms of the Jews as opposed to other groups.