Candace Owens Says Trans Rights Will Lead to Pedophilia

Footage of Candace Owens claiming that transgender rights will lead to pedophilia has sparked uproar online, with the conservative commentator comparing transitioning to "mental illness."

During the interview with right-wing U.K. broadcaster GB News, host Patrick Christys asked Owens: "What's going on in [U.S.] schools with the trans issue?"

"It's an issue I care about deeply," Owens replied. The Daily Wire presenter is currently pregnant with her third child with husband George Farmer, with whom she shares a 2-year-old son and a 1-year-old daughter.

"I just covered on my show how in certain states they are now kicking parents out, parents are no longer allowed to see what medical prescriptions are given to their children once they turn 12," the 34-year-old said.

"They are trying to pretend that children can make adult decisions at a very young age."

Owens then shared the story of Walt Heyer, a man who underwent gender reassignment surgery to become a woman in his 40s, before de-transitioning at a later date.

"What happened to him is that he was molested by his uncle when he was 4, and made to wear a dress while he was being molested," she said.

"When he wanted to rinse himself of his identity, rather than a doctor saying 'you need a psychologist,' they gave him pills and helped him transition."

Owens alleged that helping transgender people to transition will lead to people "not addressing underlying psychological issues," comparing gender dysphoria to experimenting with cigarettes.

"What this is being backed by is a big pharma push. They are selling so many new drugs to transition children."

"What is going to come down the pipeline is pedophilia," Owens said. "A very serious matter happening in America, the speed at which this has perpetuated, this is now a front issue.

"It can happen overnight in the U.K. Let America be a lesson for the U.K."

In response, Christys said: "By definition, it is entering into conversation the sexualization of children," to which Owens agreed.

"It is so obvious that the next thing that is going to come is pedophilia," she said. "Because we no longer have the courage to call mental illness, mental illness."

Newsweek has reached out to Candace Owens for comment via email.

GB News shared the interview to X—the social network formerly known as Twitter—where it received over 16,000 views. However, the interview divided opinions among users.

"What has gender ideology have to do with paedophilia?" asked JTibballs.

"Evil and vile channel spewing out this stuff," said Cloud Base.

"She is not a serious person just a fear mongerer with an agenda to vilify lbgtq people, disgusting," wrote NuanceGal.

Nevertheless, others back Owens, with Jo calling her: "A much needed voice of reason."

"The evil elite want to make paedophilia a legally recognised sexuality," claimed Jason Hall, while Heather said: "Excellent interview and a warning to all parents."

Owens is well-known for her anti-transgender stance. During an appearance at the University of Alabama on behalf of conservative youth group Turning Point USA, Owens said that trans students who feel victimized by her presence should "get a helmet" because "life's tough."

She has previously been called out for misgendering transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney and was slammed for calling transgender identities a "lie" after Target released a range of clothing and accessories for LGBTQ+ pride month.