New Zealand recently denied a visa application from conservative media personality Candace Owens, causing her to cancel her speaking tour in the country. This decision came after Australia also canceled her visa due to concerns that Owens has the ability to incite discord in various directions. Owens, known for her far-right commentary and controversial statements, has a history of spreading antisemitic rhetoric, including Holocaust denial and revisionism. She has accused both Australia and New Zealand of unfairly targeting her based on falsehoods. In response to the visa denials, Owens has hired a lawyer and plans to appeal the decisions. Additionally, Owens has faced other setbacks, such as being suspended from the YouTube Partner Program due to violations of ad-friendly and community guidelines. Despite the obstacles she has faced, Owens remains active on social media platforms and continues to speak out against what she perceives as unfair treatment. The denial of Owens’ visa applications has sparked debate about free speech, censorship, and the limits of expression in countries like Australia and New Zealand.
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