In a shocking sermon, Pastor Rob McCoy, TPUSA Faith board member, branded Candace Owens a 'witch' and threatened safety for critics of U.S.-Israel policy. Delivered days after Charlie Kirk's assassination, the clip vanished amid bot attacks—exposing deep rifts in conservative circles. Discover the full story, international reactions, and implications for free speech.
A Pulpit Turned Battlefield
In the heart of California's conservative evangelical scene, a sermon delivered on July 27, 2025, has ignited a firestorm of controversy. Pastor Rob McCoy, senior pastor emeritus at Godspeak Calvary Chapel and a prominent board member of Turning Point USA Faith (TPUSA Faith), unleashed a nearly hour-long tirade that blurred the lines between spiritual exhortation and outright intimidation. Targeting conservative commentator Candace Owens—a Black Christian mother of seven—for her vocal critiques of U.S. foreign policy toward Israel, McCoy accused her of operating under a "Jezebel spirit," practicing "witchcraft," and being "possessed" by demonic forces.
The timing is eerily suspicious. Just months earlier, on September 10, 2025, TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk—whom McCoy had long mentored and officiated his wedding for—was assassinated in a sniper attack at Utah Valley University, an event that remains unsolved and has fueled rampant conspiracy theories.
The Sermon: From Scripture to Threats
McCoy's address, framed as an "exorcism-style" rebuke, drew on biblical imagery of Jezebel—a figure symbolizing seduction and idolatry—to demonize Owens' positions. She had repeatedly questioned why American taxpayers foot the bill for "endless Middle East wars" while domestic issues like open borders and urban decay fester.
Examples abound of Owens' critiques: In a March 2024 fallout with Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro, she challenged U.S. support for Israel's Gaza operations, leading to her departure amid accusations of antisemitism.
McCoy, who co-chairs TPUSA Faith and shared stages with Kirk, positioned himself as a guardian of orthodoxy. Yet his words echoed mafia-esque warnings, implying physical peril for dissenters—a stark departure from evangelical norms.
Explain… There’s no where safe for them in the world ?? Candace isn’t safe hummm July 27th 2025 sermon part 1@RealCandaceO @TuckerCarlson @IanCarrollShow @realbaronpod @ProjectConstitu pic.twitter.com/AigVcbGfw6— Alley Files (@alleytopfiles) November 27, 2025
The Cover-Up: Deletion and Digital Siege
What transformed this disturbing rhetoric into a scandal was the swift erasure. As podcaster @realbaronpod streamed unedited clips on November 14, 2025—while McCoy was in Israel—the sermon vanished from Godspeak's website, replaced by a 404 error.
Attempts to document it further met resistance. Carroll's Apple Podcasts upload triggered a "coordinated swarm of bots" with one-star reviews and spam flags—tactics decried by Al Jazeera in coverage of Owens' own battles against suppression, including her denied Australian visa over "incite[ful]" views.
For instance, teacher Lauren Vaughn was fired for quoting Kirk on gun violence, amid a "pro-Kirk crackdown."
International Echoes and Broader Implications
Foreign sources amplify the alarm. BBC News covered Owens' defamation suit by the Macrons over transphobic claims, highlighting her global provocateur status.
McCoy's sermon isn't isolated; it reflects tensions exposed by Kirk's death, where conspiracy theories implicated Israel—dismissed as antisemitic by sources like The Times of Israel.
A Call for Accountability
McCoy's words—from a vetted voice of the "new Christian right"—transcend policy debate, veering into threats that demand scrutiny. As Owens continues advocating for fiscal restraint abroad, this episode warns of the perils in questioning sacred cows. Will conservative institutions reckon with such rhetoric, or will deletions and bots define discourse? The pulpit's echo lingers: fall in line, or else.