Conservative commentator Candace Owens is facing sharp criticism from several well-known right-wing figures as the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, continues in Utah. The backlash grew after Owens repeatedly questioned the case against Robinson and suggested that key parts of the prosecution’s argument did not add up. As prosecutors wrapped up a week of testimony on Thursday, critics accused Owens of helping Robinson’s defense by casting doubt on evidence that has been presented in court. The developments have now sparked a public fight among some of the biggest names in conservative media.
Why Candace Owens’ comments on Tyler Robinson drew criticism
The latest debate comes as prosecutors continue building their case against Tyler Robinson, who is charged with aggravated murder in connection with the September 2025 shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.A major moment in Thursday’s hearing involved video testimony from Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s former roommate and partner. According to prosecutors, Twiggs told investigators that Robinson made troubling comments after the shooting. Court records presented during the hearing also included claims that Robinson left a note saying he had “the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk” and later sent messages explaining why he allegedly targeted the conservative activist.Before the video was shown publicly, Judge Tony Graf ordered parts of the recording to be removed. Robinson’s defense team argued that releasing the full interview could unfairly influence public opinion before a trial takes place. Roughly 16 minutes were cut from the 37-minute recording before it was played in court.Owens has spent months questioning the prosecution’s case. At one point, she described Robinson as a “total patsy” and argued that he was not even on the university campus when the shooting happened.That claim came under fresh scrutiny this week when prosecutors introduced security footage that they said showed Robinson on campus four separate times on the day of the shooting.
Ben Shapiro, Laura Loomer and Blake Neff push back against Candace Owens
As details from the hearing became public, several conservative commentators openly challenged Owens’ claims.Turning Point USA producer Blake Neff criticized her position and questioned why she appeared so determined to defend Robinson. Manhattan Institute fellow Colin Wright also rejected one of Owens’ arguments that a man seen in courtroom footage looked too tall to be Robinson. Wright said the claim was not based on any reliable evidence. The criticism grew even stronger online.Activist Laura Loomer wrote on X that Owens “has been hinting for months that she is willing to help” Robinson’s defense. Loomer also accused Owens of siding with people who want Robinson acquitted.Ben Shapiro joined the dispute as well. In a social media post, he accused Owens of spending months attacking Kirk’s widow, friends and colleagues while benefiting from the attention surrounding the case.Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet made a similar accusation, claiming Owens was using Kirk’s death and legacy to draw attention to herself.Another point of disagreement involved a report published in March. According to The Washington Times, Owens cited a tabloid story that claimed a court filing showed the bullet that killed Kirk did not match Robinson’s rifle. Following that report, she called for Robinson to be acquitted during her podcast.However, the Washington Examiner noted that prosecutors have presented several other pieces of evidence, including surveillance footage, the rifle recovered near the scene, text messages that allegedly discussed a motive, and testimony from Robinson’s parents and Lance Twiggs.Robinson has not entered a plea. His attorneys have not publicly addressed whether he is guilty or innocent, though they have tried unsuccessfully to remove the possibility of a death sentence. Judge Tony Graf is expected to decide whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence for the case to move to trial.