Conservative commentator Candace Owens has ignited a firestorm with explosive allegations that billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman threatened Charlie Kirk during a tense Hamptons “intervention” just weeks before Kirk’s assassination on September 10, 2025.
In a viral six-minute video that has already garnered over 1.2 million views, Owens alleged that Ackman and Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon orchestrated a high-pressure confrontation targeting Kirk over his shifting stance on Israel. According to Owens, “threats were made” and Kirk was offered “a ton of money” to align with pro-Israel positions.
Owens detailed the alleged August 4-5, 2024, gathering in Bridgehampton, New York, which Ackman acknowledged hosting for approximately 35 young conservative influencers representing over 100 million combined social media followers. According to Owens, the event was no mere discussion but a staged intervention aimed at pressuring Kirk over his shifting views on Israel.
“In the Hamptons, and he had, um, more than one event, but he had, uh, essentially what was staged, an intervention was staged by Bill Ackman because Charlie’s thoughts, Charlie’s rational thoughts about Israel were a no, no, this is, this is not the route that you should be going on,” Owens said in her video. “And Charlie was surrounded by his friends, his quote unquote friends, uh, Bill Ackman was very upset and threats were made.”
Owens further alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally contacted Kirk during this period, inviting him to Israel in what she described as a “re-education camp.” She claimed Kirk rejected the invitation and a significant financial offer tied to his organization, Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
“I know for a fact that Charlie denied that funding that Charlie denied and what Bibi did include there, he declined to go to Israel for, I would, I would describe this as like, you know, reeducation camp,” Owens stated. “Charlie said no to Bibi.”
Owens also implicated Seth Dillon, alleging his presence at the meeting and noting his silence when confronted about the event.
“I decided to message him last night about this, uh, Hamptons meeting and Seth Dillon, who was normally very quick with a response has not yet been able to respond,” she said, adding that she sent follow-up messages pressing Dillon for comment.
“I said, trying again here, you were present when Ackman lost his mind on Charlie and when BB invited him to Israel and Charlie refused text messages immediately following this meeting are circulating. I find Ackman statement as though the meeting was somehow cordial to be incredibly disturbing.”
Bill Ackman has categorically denied Owens’ accusations, calling them “totally false” and “slanderous” in a detailed response on X.
“At no time have I ever threatened Charlie Kirk, Turning Point or anyone associated with him. I have never blackmailed anyone, let alone Charlie Kirk. I have never offered Charlie or Turning Point any money in an attempt to influence Charlie’s opinion on anything,” Ackman stated.
He clarified that he moderated only the economic discussion at the Bridgehampton event and missed the Israel session due to a board meeting conflict, making it “impossible” for him to have influenced Kirk’s positions.
Owens, however, challenged Ackman to provide evidence to counter her claims.
“Bill Ackman, if you would like to dispute that, I would love to hear what you say happened because our sources and what we have, it’s solid,” she said, noting that Ackman had promised “receipts” but failed to produce them.
According to a Trump insider and friend of Kirk, cited by The Grayzone, Kirk’s growing skepticism about Israel’s influence in U.S. politics provoked a fierce backlash from Netanyahu’s allies. The source claimed Kirk rejected a “huge offer of cash” from Netanyahu for TPUSA, believing the Israeli leader was attempting to control him after Kirk began questioning Israel’s “overwhelming influence in Washington.” The friend noted that Kirk had become “frightened” by a “sustained private campaign of intimidation and free-floating fury by wealthy and powerful allies of Netanyahu.”
Owens echoed this sentiment, suggesting Kirk was undergoing a “spiritual transformation” in his final months.
“I think, in the end, Charlie was going through a spiritual transformation,” she reflected. “I know it, he was going through a lot. There was a lot of pressure, and it’s hard for me to watch the people who were pressuring him just say the things that they’re saying. They wanted him to lose everything for changing or even slightly modifying an opinion. It’s very hurtful to me.”
Kirk himself addressed the pressure during an August 6, 2024, interview with Megyn Kelly, expressing frustration with the backlash he faced.
“It’s all of the sudden: ‘oh, Charlie: he’s no longer with us.’ Wait a second—what does ‘with us’ mean, exactly? I’m an American, okay? I represent this country,” Kirk said. “The more that you guys privately and publicly call our character into question—which is not isolated, it would be one thing if it were just one text, or two texts; it is dozens of texts—then we start to say, ‘whoa, hold the boat here.’”
Following Kirk’s death, Netanyahu issued a tribute, calling him “a lion-hearted friend of Israel” and revealing he had spoken with Kirk “only two weeks ago and invited him to Israel.” This statement aligns with Owens’ claims about Netanyahu’s outreach, further fueling speculation about the pressures Kirk faced.
The controversy has exposed deep divisions within the conservative movement, where questions about Israel’s influence in U.S. politics have become increasingly contentious. Owens’ allegations have also raised questions about her credibility, given her history of inflammatory rhetoric and ongoing legal battles, including a defamation lawsuit from French President Emmanuel Macron. Some observers suggest Ackman could pursue similar legal action if Owens’ claims are proven false.
Seth Dillon’s continued silence has only intensified speculation about his role in the alleged Hamptons meeting. Owens noted that Dillon made “frantic calls” to TPUSA but has not publicly addressed the accusations.
“Nobody is willing to go on record and describe it as cordial because they know someone’s leaking because someone’s got a guilty conscience about what happened at the Hamptons,” she said.
Owens has faced criticism for spreading incendiary claims in the past. Some legal experts suggest Ackman could pursue a defamation case against her if her latest allegations prove unsubstantiated.
Still, the unresolved questions surrounding Kirk’s final weeks have fueled speculation about the pressures he faced. As Owens put it:
“They wanted him to lose everything for changing or even slightly modifying an opinion. It’s very hurtful to me.”
The investigation into Kirk’s assassination continues, with the added complexity of a movement now reckoning with both internal divisions and external pressures.
