Candace Owens, a conservative commentator from the United States, has been denied a visa to enter New Zealand for a speaking engagement. Immigration officials confirmed this decision on Thursday, stating that it was influenced by her recent ban from Australia.
This ruling follows Australia’s rejection of Owens’ visa application due to her controversial remarks, which included denying the existence of Nazi medical experiments on Jews during World War II. Owens is scheduled to speak at events in several Australian cities and in Auckland, New Zealand, in February and March 2024. Despite the visa denials, tickets for her events are still available, and the promoter’s website has not acknowledged her inability to enter either country.
Owens has over 3 million followers on YouTube and has faced criticism for promoting conspiracy theories and antisemitism. Her comments have sparked backlash regarding various topics, including Black Lives Matter, feminism, vaccines, and immigration. In March, she announced her departure from the Daily Wire after disagreements over her statements about Jewish issues and U.S. military support for Israel. She faced significant criticism for a July YouTube video that downplayed the Holocaust.
When announcing her speaking tour in August, Owens promised discussions on free speech and her Christian faith. However, Australian authorities banned her entry in October, with Immigration Minister Tony Burke stating that she has the potential to “incite discord” with her comments about the Holocaust and Muslims. Burke emphasized that Australia’s national interest is best served without Owens in the country.
New Zealand officials did not comment on Owens’ political views but stated that she was denied an entertainer’s work visa because individuals barred from one country cannot obtain visas for another. Jock Gilray, a spokesperson for Immigration New Zealand, explained that this decision aligns with legal provisions under the Immigration Act.
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