Megyn Kelly has sounded the alarm about a troubling shift among young, talented women gravitating toward conservative viewpoints, driven by right-wing influencers’ strategic use of pop culture and social media. This trend highlights how conservative creators are effectively reshaping narratives around gender, accountability, and societal values, often pulling liberal-leaning women into their orbit.
Conservative influencers like Candace Owens and Brett Cooper have mastered leveraging high-profile cases, such as the Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni controversy, to challenge mainstream narratives. By framing these stories as examples of “#MeToo overreach” or “liberal hypocrisy,” they’ve successfully eroded support for progressive causes among younger women. These creators flood platforms like TikTok and YouTube with content that positions traditional values as common-sense solutions, often blending humor with sharp criticism of progressive policies.
Many women who consume this content still identify as liberal but increasingly adopt conservative stances on issues like gender roles, free speech, and due process. Brett Cooper, a 22-year-old conservative commentator, exemplifies this dynamic. She recounts how her content—focused on “traditional values” and pushback against woke culture—resonates with peers disillusioned by progressive elitism and hyper-partisan rhetoric. This shift is reinforced by influencers who position themselves as rebels against “toxic” corporate feminism, offering alternatives to the “girl boss” narrative that younger women now see as empty or alienating.
Progressives have largely ceded ground in these cultural battles. While right-wing creators dominate discussions around cases like Lively-Baldoni or Amber Heard vs. Johnny Depp, left-leaning voices dismiss these topics as “celebrity gossip” rather than recognizing their political weight. This detachment has allowed conservative narratives to go unchallenged, normalizing skepticism toward movements like #MeToo and amplifying distrust in mainstream media. Even Democrat-aligned women, such as Betches co-founders, have parroted conservative talking points, revealing the depth of the ideological seepage.
Experts warn that this trend isn’t just about viral moments—it’s reshaping societal standards. As feminist YouTuber Ophie Dokie notes, agreeing with Candace Owens on specific issues often leads to adopting broader right-wing ideology, even if viewers don’t fully realize it. The lack of progressive engagement in these spaces means conservative creators now set the terms of debate, framing issues like due process, family values, and individual responsibility as antidotes to “woke excess”. Megyn Kelly’s own pivot from mainstream media to a pro-Trump podcaster underscores how former centrists are finding renewed relevance by aligning with this movement.
In summary, the right’s savvy use of pop culture, combined with the left’s cultural disengagement, has created a pipeline pulling young women toward conservative ideals. This shift signals a broader realignment—one where traditional values are repackaged as rebellious counterculture, and progressive movements risk irrelevance if they fail to adapt.
