The recent memorial service for Charlie Kirk, held on September 21, 2025, at a packed State Farm Stadium in Arizona, was a major gathering of conservative figures, from former President Donald Trump to influential media personalities. Amidst the sea of attendees, one notable absence sparked widespread curiosity and rumor: that of Candace Owens, who had long described Kirk as her best friend. The question of why she was not there has opened up a complex story involving personal loyalty, political divisions, and very public disagreements.
Owens herself has stepped forward to address the speculation head-on, offering a multi-layered explanation for her decision not to attend the service. Her reasons reveal a significant rift not with Charlie Kirk himself, she insists, but with the powerful forces she believes have taken control of his legacy. The situation is further complicated by conflicting reports from within their circle about the true state of their friendship prior to Kirk’s tragic death.
Why Owens Chose to Stay Away
Candace Owens was unequivocally not present at the public memorial service for Charlie Kirk. Instead of joining the estimated 200,000 mourners in Arizona, she spent the day attending Mass, going to the movies with her children, and honoring her friend in her own way. On her podcast, she openly acknowledged she was not invited to speak at the event, which featured addresses from figures like Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Tucker Carlson.
However, she made it clear that even if she had been invited, she would have declined to attend. She labeled the federally organized event as “strange” and stated, “while I’m attacking the feds, maybe not going to a public event which the feds are organizing is a very good idea.”
🔥🚨BREAKING: Candace Owens just announced that she is not attending Charlie Kirk memorial on Sunday due to it ‘being organized by the Feds.’ Candace did reveal that she plans to go visit Kayne West during time.
Many of us will be disappointed if Candace doesn’t join us on… pic.twitter.com/GamfVmypUJ
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) September 20, 2025
Her decision was rooted in a deeper ideological stance. Owens has alleged that there is a concerted effort to silence investigations into Kirk’s death, even suggesting she believes it was a “fed operation.” She has expressed suspicion toward the donors and organizers behind Turning Point USA, Kirk’s organization, implying that “Erika is in full control … but I don’t know because I’ve been hearing some stories about donors that are pushing things.”
Furthermore, she directly accused the White House of controlling the memorial and made claims about political influences, framing her exclusion as “common sense” given her controversial views. In short, her absence was a political statement and a refusal to participate in what she perceives as a manipulated narrative.
Pushing Back Against Rumors of a Strained Friendship
A key part of Owens’ response has been to vigorously challenge the narrative that she and Kirk had a falling out. This rumor gained traction after comments from Turning Point USA board member Eric Bolling, who suggested on a podcast that Owens’ “theories got just a little bit too down the rabbit holes” and that while Kirk maintained a “cordial friendship,” there hadn’t been a “communication pipeline between the two for many years.”
Owens has fiercely denied this, telling her audience, “Charlie and I never for a single second stopped being friends. They are working on a narrative, like they always do. They are squeezing, and they are trying to pretend that Charlie and I didn’t speak for years. It could not be further from the truth.”
The reported rift appears to be centered on ideological differences, particularly regarding Israel. While Kirk was a staunch supporter, Owens has expressed views that critics have labeled antisemitic, and she has claimed that Kirk was facing “immense pressure” from powerful figures over his evolving thoughts on the issue. Despite these differences, Owens has consistently portrayed their bond as unbroken, sharing personal anecdotes and emphasizing their decade-long friendship that began when they both were rising stars in the conservative movement. Her public tributes have aimed to reclaim his legacy as aligned with her own perspective, even as others close to Kirk have rejected her claims as conspiracy theories.
Erika Kirk gave one of the most consequential speeches in American history.
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) September 21, 2025
Ultimately, while Candace Owens was physically absent from the memorial, she was certainly not silent. She found her own way to pay respects, later praising Kirk’s widow, Erika, for her stunning act of forgiveness towards the alleged killer. The entire episode underlines that in the highly charged world of political media, even gestures of mourning can become a battleground for influence and ideology, leaving the public to wonder about the private truths behind very public friendships.
