Candace Owens and Logan Paul.
A spokesperson for Candace Owens told Insider that she and Logan Paul had a "productive chat" and will likely publicly debate.
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images, Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images
  • A spokesperson for Candace Owens told Insider that she and Logan Paul will "very likely" debate.
  • Owens had challenged Paul to a debate after a clip resurfaced showing him speaking against racism.
  • Paul called out Owens before on "Impaulsive" over her viral tweet about Harry Styles' dress choice.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Right-wing commentator Candace Owens and YouTuber-turned-boxer Logan Paul had a "productive chat offline" and will "very likely" have a public political debate in the near future, a spokesperson for Owens told Insider on Wednesday.

"They chatted briefly and determined that although both of them disagree on a variety of topics, they are both much more interested in learning from one another and think people would benefit from hearing an honest discussion between two parties rather than a 'gotcha' moment that might play well for social media," the spokesperson said.

The statement comes after Owens challenged Paul to a debate in a tweet on Friday and Paul said he was open to the idea on Tuesday's episode of his podcast "Impaulsive."

Paul, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, said on the podcast that he was "perplexed, to say the least," when Owens challenged him.

"I started to entertain this action, I ended up speaking with her, and there may be a future where we sit down and have a civil discourse," he said. "I believe I could hold my own."

Here's why Owens and Paul may have their own debate.

A resurfaced "Impaulsive" clip sparked the idea of the debate

Owens, a staunch conservative known for spreading COVID-19 misinformation who has 2.7 million followers on Twitter and 4 million on Instagram, tweeted at Paul after an old clip from his podcast resurfaced and began to gain traction online on Friday.

In the minute-long clip, which was boosted by the right-wing YouTuber "Mythinformed MKE" and came from a June 2020 episode of "Impaulsive," Paul said that people who believe white privilege doesn't exist are "f------ blind" and encouraged his supporters to fight racism and injustice, among other progressive sentiments.

"Logan loves to challenge people in the boxing ring. I'd like to publicly challenge him to go a few rounds with me in a political debate," Owens wrote in a Friday tweet, which has accrued over 10,000 likes and nearly 2,000 retweets. She added that she wants Paul to explain to her how he has more privilege than her because of his skin color.

During Tuesday's "Impaulsive" episode, Paul's co-host Mike Maljak said that Owens "calling out a white man for standing up for persons of color" was "such a clear play for clout."

Paul called out Owens for criticizing Harry Styles' dress

Logan and Jake Paul at a boxing match
Jake Paul (left) and Logan Paul (right)
Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Paul, who has an extensive history of igniting controversy on the internet, has gradually recast himself as a more responsible, politically progressive figure - especially compared to his younger brother Jake, who once called COVID-19 a "hoax" and listed FaceTiming with former President Donald Trump as a top achievement of his.

In addition to his progressive comments about white privilege on "Impaulsive," Logan showed support for Harry Styles after the musician wore a blue gown for the December 2020 issue of Vogue.

Arguing on a November episode of "Impaulsive" with Maljak, who grilled Styles' choice to wear a typically feminine garment, Logan said that he's "all about challenging social norms" and would wear a dress "in a heartbeat," because manliness is about "being comfortable with who you are, regardless of what people think about what you're wearing."

During the same "Impaulsive" episode, Logan responded to a viral tweet by Owens, who had spoken strongly against Styles' wardrobe choice and called it "an outright attack" on "manly men."

Logan said that he would ask Owens, "what about me is not manly to you?" if the commentator ever questioned him for wearing a dress.

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