Right-wing podcaster Candace Owens has publicly criticized her former employer, The Daily Wire, describing the conservative media company and its co-founder Ben Shapiro as running a "cult" amid reported financial difficulties.
Owens, speaking on her show Wednesday, stated that the company's struggles stem from its internal culture and how individuals are treated. She cited a recent Semafor article detailing financial challenges, including a decline in advertising revenue since 2022. "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."
The Daily Wire, known for its "anti-woke" stances, has experienced several staff changes and layoffs in recent years, with prominent figures like Owens and Brett Cooper departing. According to the Semafor report, which reviewed company documents, paid subscriptions, which constituted about three-quarters of the company's revenue, plummeted by a third in 2025 compared to the previous year. The company has reportedly been unable to increase its subscriber base or retain existing paying members.
Further financial challenges were attributed to the company's fantasy scripted series, "The Pendragon Cycle." The production reportedly cost $50 million but did not achieve audience resonance. Owens suggested that the timing of the Semafor article's release was strategically intended to attract investors.
Owens, who herself has faced scrutiny for controversial statements, specifically blamed Shapiro's leadership for the company's issues. "Shapiro “thinks that people disagreeing with him is a declaration of war,” she said. “This is how the company is run from top to bottom. They hate you if you don’t agree with them.” She concluded, “That’s not a company, that’s a cult, and a cult cannot survive.”
The Daily Wire is reportedly in discussions with an investment firm for a $100 million investment, which would value the company at $750 million and precede an initial public offering. Owens' comments come shortly after her own departure from the company, which she stated was due to clashes with Shapiro over Israel.