WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Candace Owens, a well-known conservative political commentator in the U.S., has been denied a visa to enter New Zealand for an upcoming speaking engagement, according to immigration authorities. The decision was revealed on Thursday, following a similar outcome in Australia where her visa application was also turned down. This was mainly due to Owens’ controversial statements which included claims rejecting the reality of Nazi medical experimentation during World War II.
Owens is due to participate in a series of events across various Australian cities, as well as in Auckland, New Zealand, in February and March of the following year. Although tickets for these events are still available for purchase, there has been no mention of her visa difficulties on the promoter’s website.
With a substantial following exceeding 3 million subscribers on YouTube, Owens has often stirred heated debate, facing allegations from critics of promoting conspiracy theories and antisemitism. Her contentious statements have also provoked backlash regarding topics like Black Lives Matter, feminism, vaccinations, and immigration reform.
Earlier this year, in March, Owens announced her departure from the Daily Wire, an online platform where she hosted a talk show since 2021, due to disagreements with the organization’s founders over her views on Jewish communities and her stance against U.S. military assistance to Israel. In July, her comments in a YouTube video that downplayed the significance of the Holocaust further fueled public outrage against her.
In her speaking tour announcement made in August, Owens assured audiences in Australia and New Zealand that her discussions would revolve around the themes of free speech and her Christian beliefs. However, in October, Australian authorities took a firm stand by blocking her entry, with Immigration Minister Tony Burke publicly stating that Owens could “incite discord in almost every direction.” He cited her views on the Holocaust and Muslims as justification for the ban, asserting that the decision serves Australia’s national interests. This move came after appeals from Jewish organizations in Australia who urged the government to prevent her from entering the country.
New Zealand’s immigration officials did not comment on Owens’ political views but confirmed the denial of her visa. Jock Gilray, a representative of the immigration agency, explained that she was denied an entertainer’s work permit because legal protocols prevent granting visas to individuals who have been barred from other nations.
The promoter based in Australia, known as Rocksman, has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the situation.