Candace Owens claims Charlie Kirk faced threats from Bill Ackman and Seth Dillon before his death

WASHINGTON, DC: In a video that quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), conservative commentator Candace Owens made sweeping claims against Bill Ackman and Seth Dillon, alleging that they pressured Charlie Kirk in a tense meeting weeks before he was shot dead. 

The clip, taken from the more than hour-long video originally uploaded on Owens's official YouTube channel, was shared on X on Monday, September 15, by Trending Politics co-owner Collin Rugg.

Candace Owens claims Charlie Kirk had a change of heart about Israel

In this six-minute video, Candace Owens claimed that billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman and Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon threatened Charlie Kirk as part of an "intense intervention."

She alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had contacted the Turning Point USA founder, who was experiencing a change of heart about Israel. Kirk apparently declined the invitation, which, according to her, was a resistance to external pressure.

“I know that Charlie was offered a significant amount of money during that time… a ton of money,” Owens stated.  

Bill Ackman pushes back against Candace Owens' claims

Bill Ackman denied Candace Owens’ accusations, calling them slanderous and deeply saddening. The billionaire hedge fund manager further said, "For the record, at no time have I ever threatened Charlie Kirk, Turning Point or anyone associated with him. I have never blackmailed anyone, let alone Charlie Kirk. I have never offered Charlie or Turning Point any money in an attempt to influence Charlie's opinion on anything."

"In fact, my interactions with Charlie Kirk have been extremely cordial, albeit limited, regretfully so, as I was very impressed by him and his work and I will sadly never see him again," Ackman insisted. 

He confirmed that he hosted roughly 35 young conservative influencers, including Kirk, in Bridgehampton in early August to discuss major cultural and political topics, including Israel. Although some attendees were critical of US support for Israel, it was not confrontational.

“This was not an intervention. It gave me considerable perspective on what is on the mind of young Americans,” Ackman emphasised. “The next thing I knew, he was gone,” he added.

Owens also mentioned reaching out to Dillon for a comment on the claim, but the Babylong Bee CEO did not respond. 

Bill Ackman’s condolences and Candace Owens’ tribute to Charlie Kirk

Following Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting at Utah Valley University on September 10, Bill Ackman took to X to express his condolences, writing, "I feel incredibly privileged to have spent a day and shared a meal with @charliekirk11 this summer. He was a giant of a man." Although it’s not clear whether it's the same lunch described by Owens. 

Meanwhile, Owens uploaded an emotional tribute video on YouTube for Kirk, titled “To My Friend, Charlie Kirk,” in which she recalled their strong bond and their past experience of working together. 

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