Owens Celebrates Former Employer's Troubles
Right-wing podcaster Candace Owens is relishing in the reported financial downfall of her former employer, The Daily Wire, bashing the conservative media company and its co-founder Ben Shapiro. Speaking on her show Wednesday, Owens attributed the company's struggles to its internal culture and Shapiro's leadership style.
Subscriber and Revenue Plunge
Owens cited a Semafor article published this week that detailed The Daily Wire's recent financial hurdles. The company, once a top performer in conservative spaces with its anti-woke stance, has faced staff changes, layoffs, and departures of popular figures like Owens and Brett Cooper. Documents reviewed by the outlet revealed a decline in ad revenue since 2022. Paid subscriptions, which make up about three-quarters of the company's revenue, plummeted by a third in 2025 from the previous year.
The $50 Million Flop
Other financial problems are linked to the fantasy scripted series "The Pendragon Cycle." The company spent $50 million to produce the series, but it ultimately did not resonate with audiences. According to the memo, The Daily Wire is now in talks to take at least $100 million from an investment firm, valuing the company at $750 million and aiming for an ambitious initial public offering. Owens maintained the article was "obviously intentionally placed" to attract investors.
Owens Criticizes Shapiro's Leadership
"So, why is this happening? Well, because they’re unnecessarily awful to everyone," Owens said. "I have never seen a person less capable of making friends, or at least not making enemies. You don’t need to be friends with everybody ... Ben Shapiro — it’s a bizarre talent he has." Owens, who was fired after multiple clashes with Shapiro over Israel, blamed the company's internal culture for its woes. "Shapiro thinks that people disagreeing with him is a declaration of war. This is how the company is run from top to bottom. They hate you if you don’t agree with them," she said. "That’s not a company, that’s a cult, and a cult cannot survive."
Owens' Own Controversies
Owens herself has faced criticism for spreading conspiracy theories about Charlie Kirk's death and baselessly claiming France's first lady Brigitte Macron is transgender.
