How Audience Capture Drives Influencers to Antisemitism

Identities are not formed in a vacuum. They are shaped by the expectations of our communities. As a result, we often subconsciously shape our behaviours in ways that we believe will be rewarded by these same communities. Of course, these rewards, and the social validation that comes with them, are highly addictive. Bit by bit, our old personae can be chipped away until we no longer resemble who we once were, effectively becoming caricatures of ourselves. 

Nowhere is this dynamic more obviously prevalent than among the class of political internet influencers. These influencers, desperate to attract and retain an audience within the hyper-competitive arena of social media punditry, are incentivised to adopt ever more extreme positions to win the loyalty of a fickle group of online spectators. 

Over the past few weeks, popular conservative journalist Megyn Kelly has been under immense pressure to distance herself from controversial firebrands Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens over their antisemitic conduct. Though Kelly established herself as a voice against antisemitism in the two years following the brutal 7 October 2023 massacres in southern Israel, her vocal defence of Carlson and Owens has raised eyebrows. 

Carlson has spent the past year spreading unsubstantiated allegations that Israel systemically oppresses Christians and has invited guests who peddle Holocaust denialist narratives. Owens has been more vitriolic and medieval in her antisemitism, referring to Jews as a paedophilic people who engage in child sacrifice. 

Despite his unhinged behaviour, Kelly has continued to invite Carlson on her show as a guest. She also described Candace Owens as “brilliant” during a segment discussing Owens’s unsubstantiated assertions that Israel orchestrated the murder of Charlie Kirk. Thus far, Kelly has rebuffed all demands that she cut ties with the pair. In a recent appearance on the Fifth Column podcast, Kelly defended Carlson as an “important voice” in the national discourse and argued that Owens should be afforded more grace, citing her status as a “young mother.” 

One could argue that Kelly’s behaviour is rooted in a legitimate effort to express open-mindedness towards controversial or divisive viewpoints. However, another argument makes more sense.