Candace Owens is best known for her Twitter fingers and controversial opinions than her actual career, and this moment is no exception. Following the release of Lil Nas X’s controversial music video for “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” Owens tweeted out her frustrations concerning what’s holding the black community behind and directed them towards Lil Nas X, George Floyd and Cardi B.
“We’ve turned George Floyd, a criminal drug addict, into an icon,” she began. “We are promoting Satan shoes to wear on our feet. We’ve got Cardi B named as woman of the year. But we’re convinced it’s white supremacy that’s keeping black America behind. How stupid can we be?”
We’ve turned George Floyd, a criminal drug addict, into an icon.
We are promoting Satan shoes to wear on our feet.
We’ve got Cardi B named as woman of the year.
But we’re convinced it’s white supremacy that’s keeping black America behind.
How stupid can we be?
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) March 28, 2021
Many were immediately outraged at her portrayal of George Floyd, a man who was killed during a 2020 arrest, with one person tweeting, “…Addiction is not a crime. It is a disease. But you know what is a crime? Kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes and murdering him…”
As a recovering drug addict it is outrageous to me that people still think it is ok to demonize addicts. Addiction is not a crime. It is a disease. But you know what is a crime? Kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes and murdering him—which Derek Chauvin is GUILTY of.
— Ryan Knight ☭ (@ProudSocialist) March 29, 2021
The conservative commentator has gone back and forth with Cardi B since last year when she criticized the rapper for being “used” by then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and called her “barely literate.” According to Billboard, Cardi B responded via Twitter, “Yes you are right I have the number 1 song & I have a huge platform and I can make millions go vote to get the MAN THAT USED YOU…”
This time around, Owens’ main target was Lil Nas X. Since the release of “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) and the “Satan Shoes” used for promotion, social media users are conflicted on whether Lil Nas X was justified in his artistic freedom. The video, which includes Lil Nas X sliding down to “Hell” on a stripper pole and giving Satan a lapdance, currently has 44.5 million views on YouTube, less than a week after its debut.
The sneakers, covered in pentagrams and allegedly containing one drop of blood, made an even bigger stir than the video, with some claiming them as “demonic.” Despite that, the controversy surrounding the shoes has caused them to be nearly sold out. According to MSCHF, the artists behind the modified shoes, only one of the limited 666 pairs remain.
And if you think that Lil Nas X lets his haters faze him, then think again. The 21-year-old social media personality and musician has been a troll’s nightmare since the release of his video last Thursday.
Shortly after Owens’ tweet, Lil Nas X responded, “Call me by your name outsold,” referring to the success of his new song.
call me by your name outsold
— nope 🏹 (@LilNasX) March 28, 2021
He followed it up by tweeting, “Don’t care and [you’re] a flop.”
Though Owens hasn’t responded yet, Lil Nas X is living life unbothered.