Chris Cuomo says the Daily Wire shut down former commentator Candace Owens because the company believed she would win a debate with Ben Shapiro over Israel. He said it’s because there are.
Cuomo, a primetime News Nation host and former CNN anchor, said the Daily Wire was right to issue a gag order against Owens. Owens is a famously outspoken media personality who left right-wing media after accusing Israel of committing “genocide.” He is a Palestinian from Gaza.
“The Daily Wire does not believe Mr. Shapiro will win the debate against Candace Owens,” Mr. Cuomo told podcast host Patrick Bett-David on Wednesday.
His comment is This was reported by the news site Mediaite.
Last week, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald wrote for The Daily Wire after Owens and the company parted ways in March, despite Shapiro’s pledge to debate Israel and anti-Semitism. It was reported that the management sought and obtained a gag order from an arbitrator.
The two have been going back and forth on social media to find an agreed venue for discussions about Israel and anti-Semitism.
However, while these public debates were taking place on the This effectively dashed any hopes for the debate. .
“I’ll tell you what. I like that move. This is a very smart move by the Daily Wire. [to obtain the gag order]” Cuomo told Bet David.
“Organizations protect themselves, and they do this as soon as they sign a contract with you.”
The Post has contacted the Daily Wire for comment. Owens could not be reached for comment.
Owens and the Daily Wire took issue with her co-founder’s sharp criticism of Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack that killed about 1,200 soldiers and civilians. After a public altercation with Mr. Shapiro, they parted ways.
Owens also said his comments condemned the Anti-Defamation League for expressing what it called “virulent anti-Semitism.”
In addition to criticizing Israel, she slammed “political Jews” who foment anti-Semitism and speculated that “secret Jewish gangs” were behind “horrible acts” against Hollywood figures.
Owens, 34, also said that “a group of Jews in Hollywood” were involved in “something very sinister.”
She also favorited a post by X that invoked an ancient libel that accused Jews of drinking the blood of Christians.
After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, Owens criticized the Israeli military’s response in Gaza, writing on social media: There is no justification for genocide. ”
Shapiro, an Orthodox Jew and staunch defender of Israel, said Owens’ comments on the subject were “absolutely disgraceful.”
In response, Owens wrote to X, “You cannot serve both God and money.”
In November, Shapiro’s fans took to social media to demand that the Daily Wire fire Owens over her comments, while Daily Wire CEO Jeremy Bowling wrote on social media: .[E]Even if I could, I wouldn’t fire Candice because we have another thing in common. It is a desire not to regulate the speech of hosts, even if they disagree with their opinions. Candace is paid to give her opinion, not mine or Ben’s. ”
“As long as those opinions don’t violate the law or she violates the terms of her contract in some way, her job is safe and she’s welcome at the Daily Wire,” Bowling said.
