Lauren Southern#References

Southern was born in Surrey, British Columbia.{{cite web |url=https://www.libertarian.ca/candidate/lauren-southern |title=Lauren Southern profile |publisher=Libertarian Party of Canada |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610191650/https://www.libertarian.ca/candidate/lauren-southern |archive-date=10 June 2016 |access-date=1 July 2016}} She studied political science at the University of the Fraser Valley,{{Cite news |url=http://www.langleyadvance.com/federalelection/323015761.html |title=Langley post-secondary student runs as Libertarian |last=Claxton |first=Matthew |date=26 August 2015 |work=Langley Advance |access-date=30 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031150933/http://www.langleyadvance.com/federalelection/323015761.html |archive-date=31 October 2016}} but left after two years.{{cite news |last=Broderick |first=Ryan |date=22 June 2017 |title=Far-Right Activists Are Stealing Tricks From YouTubers And It's Going To Get People Hurt |work=BuzzFeed News |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/the-far-right-influencer-playbook |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114163028/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/the-far-right-influencer-playbook |archive-date=14 January 2021}}

On 18 October 2015, Southern was a candidate in the 2015 Canadian federal election representing the Libertarian Party in the district of Langley–Aldergrove.{{cite web |last=Kabas |first=Marisa |author-link=Marisa Kabas |date=15 June 2015 |title=Meet the Canadian college student who's about to be the next enemy of the feminist movement |url=https://www.dailydot.com/irl/lauren-southern-libertarian/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728105328/http://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/lauren-southern-libertarian/ |archive-date=28 July 2015 |work=The Daily Dot}} She was briefly removed by the party as a candidate but was reinstated with support from Breitbart News and The Rebel Media. The election was won by Conservative candidate Mark Warawa. Southern finished last, receiving 535 votes, or 0.9% of the total.{{cite web |title=Official Voting Results {{!}} British Columbia, Langley–Aldergrove {{!}} Forty-second General Election, 2015 |url=http://www.elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2015app/41/9800e.html |website=www.elections.ca |access-date=13 December 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815205225/http://elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2015app/41/9800e.html |archive-date=15 August 2016}}

Southern has been described as conservative,{{efn|name=conservative bundle|Sources describing Southern as "conservative" include:

• {{Cite web |date=2017-10-24 |title=Conservative YouTuber's U Of M Speech Expected To Draw Protesters - CBS Minnesota |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/lauren-southern-u-of-m/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=CBS News}}
• {{Cite web |date=2018-07-22 |title=WA Police issue warning for Lauren Southern protesters |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/wa-police-issue-warning-for-lauren-southern-protesters-20180722-p4zsx5.html |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=WAtoday}}
• {{Cite web |last=Middlecamp |first=David |date=May 26, 2017 |title=Conservative activist Lauren Southern speaks at Cal Poly |url=https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article152767664.html |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=The Tribune (San Luis Obispo)}}}} right-wing,{{efn|name=right wing bundle|Sources describing Southern as "right-wing" include:
• {{cite news |last1=Hosenball |first1=Mark |title=British authorities ban three foreign right-wing activists |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-security-deportations/british-authorities-ban-three-foreign-right-wing-activists-idUSKCN1GO2LN |access-date=9 May 2018 |work=Reuters |date=12 March 2018}}
• {{cite news |last1=Farrell |first1=Jeff |title=Anti-immigrant ship trying to block refugees from crossing Mediterranean has funding cancelled |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/defend-europe-finding-patreon-refugee-boats-mediterranean-sea-c-star-migrants-right-wing-ngo-rescue-a7891946.html |access-date=9 May 2018 |work=The Independent |date=14 August 2017}}
• {{cite web | url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/left-wing-protesters-removed-lauren-022009509.html?guccounter=1 | title=Left-Wing Protesters Removed from Lauren Southern's Melbourne Talk | date=21 July 2018 }}
• {{cite web | url=https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/i-was-right-about-why-lauren-southern-quit-white-nationalism,16566 | title=I was right about why Lauren Southern 'quit' white nationalism }}}} alt-right,{{efn|name=alt-right bundle| Sources describing Southern as "alt-right" include:
• {{Cite news |last=Neiwert |first=David |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/04/17/far-right-descends-berkeley-free-speech-and-planned-violence |title=The Far Right Descends on Berkeley for 'Free Speech' and Planned Violence |work=Hatewatch |publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center |access-date=27 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817211931/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/04/17/far-right-descends-berkeley-free-speech-and-planned-violence |archive-date=17 August 2017}}
• {{Cite news |last=Wildman |first=Sarah |url=https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/world/2017/7/6/15804196/generation-identity-identitarians-alt-right-migration-islam-refugees-europe |title=A European alt-right group wants to take to the sea to stop rescuers from saving migrants |work=Vox |access-date=6 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706150831/https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/world/2017/7/6/15804196/generation-identity-identitarians-alt-right-migration-islam-refugees-europe |archive-date=6 July 2017}}
• {{cite news |last1=Mortimer |first1=Caroline |title=Far-right activists stopped as they try to block refugee rescue in the Mediterranean |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/anti-immigrant-ship-far-right-refugee-boats-stopped-suez-canal-c-star-defend-europe-islamophobic-a7851341.html |access-date=9 May 2018 |work=The Independent |date=20 July 2017}}
• {{Cite web |last=Leah |first=Rachel |date=2017-12-04 |title="Alt-right" women are upset that "alt-right" men are treating them terribly |url=https://www.salon.com/2017/12/04/alt-right-women-are-upset-that-alt-right-men-are-treating-them-terribly/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Salon |language=en}}
• {{cite news |last1=Warren |first1=James |title=How women of the alt-right are attacked viciously – by the men of the alt-right |url=https://www.poynter.org/news/how-women-alt-right-are-attacked-viciously-men-alt-right |access-date=9 July 2018 |work=Poynter |date=7 December 2017 |language=en}}
• {{cite news |last1=Cunningham |first1=Melissa |title=Far-right mouthpiece Lauren Southern 'hit with hefty police bill' |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/far-right-mouthpiece-lauren-southern-hit-with-hefty-police-bill-20180719-p4zsis.html |access-date=6 March 2022 |work=The Age |date=19 July 2018 |language=en |quote=Lauren Southern has become the second controversial alt-right commentator to be slapped with a hefty police bill ahead of her controversial show in Melbourne.}}
• {{Cite web |page=14 |url=http://politicalcapital.hu/pc-admin/source/documents/Laruelle_Rivera_Collusion_or_Homegrown_Collaboration.pdf |first1=Marlene |last1=Laruelle |title=Collusion or Homegrown Collaboration? Connections between German Far Right and Russia |date=April 2019 |author-link=Marlene Laruelle |first2=Ellen |last2=Rivera |publisher=Political Capital Policy Research and Consulting Institute}}
• {{Cite web |last1=Brook |first1=Stephen |last2=Hutchinson |first2=Samantha |date=1 October 2020 |title=Alt-right activist Lauren Southern dumped from Conservative conference |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/alt-right-activist-lauren-southern-dumped-from-conservative-conference-20201001-p5611m.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005084016/https://www.smh.com.au/national/alt-right-activist-lauren-southern-dumped-from-conservative-conference-20201001-p5611m.html |archive-date=5 October 2020 |access-date=5 October 2020 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}
• {{cite news |last1=Lombroso |first1=Daniel |title=Why the Alt-Right's Most Famous Woman Disappeared |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/10/alt-right-star-racist-propagandist-has-no-regrets/616725/ |access-date=19 December 2020 |work=The Atlantic |date=16 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115040222/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/10/alt-right-star-racist-propagandist-has-no-regrets/616725/ |archive-date=15 November 2020 |url-status=live |quote=Southern was only in her early 20s, but she had already emerged as the alt-right's most influential woman.}}}} and far-right{{efn|name=far-right bundle|Sources describing Southern as "far-right" include:
• {{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Graeme |title=Why Lauren Southern Got Banned From Patreon |url=http://www.canadalandshow.com/lauren-southern-banned-by-patreon |access-date=17 August 2017 |work=Canadaland |date=27 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818133356/http://www.canadalandshow.com/lauren-southern-banned-by-patreon/ |archive-date=18 August 2017}}
• {{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Jason |title=White farmers: how a far-right idea was planted in Donald Trump's mind |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/23/white-farmers-trump-south-africa-tucker-carlson-far-right-influence |access-date=10 November 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=24 August 2018}}
• {{cite news |last1=Baidawi |first1=Adam |title=South Africa Says Australia Retracted Claim of 'Persecuted' White Farmers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/world/australia/south-africa-white-farmers.html |access-date=16 April 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=3 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416134948/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/world/australia/south-africa-white-farmers.html |archive-date=16 April 2018}}
• {{cite news |title=Canadian far-right activist Lauren Southern barred from Britain for anti-Muslim views |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/far-right-figures-say-they-were-deported-from-britain |access-date=16 April 2018 |work=National Post |date=12 March 2018}}
• {{cite news |last1=Oppenheim |first1=Maya |title=Far-right Canadian activist detained in Calais and banned from entering UK |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lauren-southern-far-right-canada-racist-calais-detain-uk-ban-enter-visa-a8254116.html |access-date=16 April 2018 |work=The Independent |date=13 March 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315144150/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lauren-southern-far-right-canada-racist-calais-detain-uk-ban-enter-visa-a8254116.html |archive-date=15 March 2018}}
• {{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-04/trump-retweets-far-right-youtube-star-in-attack-on-social-media |title=Trump Retweets Far-Right YouTube Star in Attack on Social Media |date=2019 |work=Bloomberg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504173259/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-04/trump-retweets-far-right-youtube-star-in-attack-on-social-media |archive-date=4 May 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=4 May 2019}}
• {{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/society/article/the-women-flying-the-flag-for-generation-identity-and-far-right-politics-7dbp6c9kv |title=The women flying the flag for Generation Identity and far-right politics |last=Whyte |first=Lara |work=The Times |date=28 September 2018 |access-date=6 January 2021}}
• {{cite news |last=Franco |first=Aaron |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/-are-not-alone-former-far-right-activists-launch-project-fight-online-rcna306 |title='You are not alone': Former far-right activists launch project to fight online radicalization |work=NBC News |date=23 February 2021 |access-date=16 April 2021 |quote=videos that received millions of views and helped propel far-right figures like Lauren Southern, Tommy Robinson and Infowars host Alex Jones into notoriety}}}} Some academics and journalists have described Southern as a white nationalist,{{efn|name=white nationalist bundle|Sources discussing Southern in relation to white nationalism include:
• {{cite news |last1=Lombroso |first1=Daniel |title=Why the Alt-Right's Most Famous Woman Disappeared |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/10/alt-right-star-racist-propagandist-has-no-regrets/616725/ |access-date=19 December 2020 |work=The Atlantic |date=16 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115040222/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/10/alt-right-star-racist-propagandist-has-no-regrets/616725/ |archive-date=15 November 2020 |url-status=live |quote=By the time Southern went on McInnes's show, I had been following her for nearly a year. I was making a documentary for The Atlantic about the white-nationalist movement, called White Noise. I'd already become accustomed to the accommodations Southern made to stay within a movement whose hatreds are prolific. (Southern denies being a white nationalist.)}}
• {{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jason |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/10/lauren-southern-is-on-the-comeback-trail-and-australian-conservatives-are-all-too-happy-to-help |title=Lauren Southern is on the comeback trail, and Australian conservatives are all too happy to help |work=The Guardian |date=9 August 2020 |access-date=22 December 2020 |quote=And when it comes down to it, there isn't much daylight between the politics of Southern, which are white nationalist, and those of Australian conservatism as it has developed in recent decades.}}
• {{cite book |last1=Robison-Greene |first1=Rachel |last2=Greene |first2=Richard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bxyVDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Lauren+Southern%22+%22white+nationalist%22&pg=PT88 |title=Conspiracy Theories: Philosophers Connect the Dots |publisher=Open Court |year=2020 |page=88 |isbn=978-0812694833 |quote=Camus's notion of the Great Replacement has been spread by right-wing and white nationalist figures across the world. In July 2018, Lauren Southern, a Canadian alt-right figure posted, a video titled 'The Great Replacement' on YouTube that got over 250,000 views.}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Martineau |first=Paris |url=https://www.wired.com/story/not-youtubes-algorithm-radicalizes-people/ |title=Maybe It's Not YouTube's Algorithm That Radicalizes People |magazine=Wired |date=23 October 2019 |access-date=6 January 2021 |quote=those that express more explicitly white nationalist messages, like Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern.}}
• {{cite book |last=Stern |first=Alexandra Minna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_--dDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Lauren+Southern%22+%22white+nationalist%22&pg=PA131 |title=Proud Boys and the White Ethnostate: How the Alt-Right Is Warping the American Imagination |location=Boston, Mass. |publisher=Beacon Press |year=2019 |page=101 |isbn=978-0807063361 |quote=As a home for the small but active alt-right sisterhood, Radio 3Fourteen brings together female alt-righters with their followers on social media. Regulars include ... Canadian white nationalists Lauren Southern and Faith Goldy}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Anderson |first=Wendy K Z |date=1 March 2018 |title=Classifying Whiteness: Unmasking White Nationalist Women's Digital Design through an Intersectional Analysis of Contained Agency |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/ccc/tcy002 |journal=Communication, Culture and Critique |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=116–132 |doi=10.1093/ccc/tcy002 |issn=1753-9129 |quote=Second, although white nationalist speakers like Milo Yiannopoulos are being banned from speaking on campus, white nationalist women retain their seats at the table. Lauren Southern, following her presentation at the University of Minnesota...|url-access=subscription }}
• {{cite book |first1=Simon |last1=Strick |title=Right-Wing Populism and Gender |chapter=The Alternative Right, Masculinities, and Ordinary Affect |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783839449806-012/html |publisher=transcript Verlag |year=2020 |pages=207–230 |isbn=978-3839449806 |via=www.degruyter.com |doi=10.1515/9783839449806-012 |quote=On behalf of Robinson, a diverse assortment of right-wing celebrities spoke at Whitehall: Canadian white nationalist Lauren Southern...}}

}} which she has denied.{{cite news |last1=Lombroso |first1=Daniel |title=Why the Alt-Right's Most Famous Woman Disappeared |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/10/alt-right-star-racist-propagandist-has-no-regrets/616725/ |access-date=19 December 2020 |work=The Atlantic |date=16 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115040222/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/10/alt-right-star-racist-propagandist-has-no-regrets/616725/ |archive-date=15 November 2020 |url-status=live |quote=(Southern denies being a white nationalist.)}} Southern also rejects the label "far-right", preferring to be described as a conservative.{{cite news |last=Metz |first=Cade |date=15 April 2021 |title=Feeding Hate With Video: A Former Alt-Right YouTuber Explains His Methods |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/15/technology/alt-right-youtube-algorithm.html |url-status=live |access-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417010836/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/15/technology/alt-right-youtube-algorithm.html |archive-date=17 April 2021}} The Southern Poverty Law Center has characterized Southern's videos as "anti-feminist, xenophobic, Islamophobic diatribes" which "tiptoe at the precipice of outright white nationalism". She was interviewed by the London Times in 2019: "When we speak, Southern flatly denies being racist or even far right, then ends our conversation by predicting a race war and quoting Enoch Powell."

Before she left university, The Rebel Media founder Ezra Levant met Southern at a conference. He had been impressed by the questions she had asked the speakers and asked her to audition. She moved to Toronto to work in the website's offices. Her first video, "Why I Am Not A Feminist", appeared on the website in April 2015.{{cite news |last1=Kelley |first1=Brendan Joel |date=7 November 2017 |title=Lauren Southern: The alt-right's Canadian dog whistler |language=en |work=Hatewatch |publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/11/07/lauren-southern-alt-right%E2%80%99s-canadian-dog-whistler |url-status=live |access-date=30 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806112912/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/11/07/lauren-southern-alt-right%E2%80%99s-canadian-dog-whistler |archive-date=6 August 2018}} She worked regularly with Milo Yiannopoulos and Faith Goldy while at Rebel Media and made multiple videos with both of them.{{cite web |url=https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/2018/03/14/brittany-pettibone-lauren-southern-not-conservative-activists-journalists/ |title=Brittany Pettibone and Lauren Southern Are Not "Conservative" Activists or "Journalists" |date=14 March 2018 |publisher=Hope Not Hate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621163917/https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/2018/03/14/brittany-pettibone-lauren-southern-not-conservative-activists-journalists/ |archive-date=21 June 2019 |access-date=5 August 2018}}

In October 2016, Southern had some documentation of her gender legally changed to male as part of a video produced for The Rebel Media to show the ease of Ontario's new gender ID laws.{{Cite web |last=Donato |first=Al |date=7 October 2016 |title=When Rebel Media Reporters Fake Being Trans, They're Not Doing Journalism |url=https://torontoist.com/2016/10/when-rebel-reporters-fake-being-trans-theyre-not-doing-journalism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008160435/https://torontoist.com/2016/10/when-rebel-reporters-fake-being-trans-theyre-not-doing-journalism/ |archive-date=8 October 2016 |access-date=28 January 2022 |website=Torontoist}}

In December 2016, Southern self-published a short book Barbarians: How Baby Boomers, Immigrants, and Islam Screwed My Generation.{{cite book |last1=Southern |first1=Lauren |title=Barbarians: How Baby Boomers, Immigrants, and Islam Screwed My Generation |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |year=2016 |isbn=978-1541136946}} In the book, she wrote: "As far as I'm concerned, Hitler was just a SJW who happened to get freaky amounts of power and actually implement his #KillAllJews (the predecessor to #KillAllMen) worldview". According to her, Hitler "fawned over Muslims more sycophantically than Justin Trudeau." Barbarians gained a cover endorsement from Ann Coulter.

In March 2017, Southern announced she would be leaving The Rebel Media.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18ZRJ0D6zPE |title=Going Independent |date=9 March 2017 |last=Southern |first=Lauren |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310201035/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18ZRJ0D6zPE |archive-date=10 March 2017 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}} In the same month, she gained access to White House press briefings.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/alex-jones/meet-lauren-southern-latest-alt-right-media-troll-gain-access-white-house-press-briefing |title=Meet Lauren Southern, The Latest "Alt-Right" Media Troll To Gain Access To The White House Press Briefing |last=López G. |first=Christina |date=14 March 2017 |work=Media Matters for America |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106064923/https://www.mediamatters.org/alex-jones/meet-lauren-southern-latest-alt-right-media-troll-gain-access-white-house-press-briefing |archive-date=6 January 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://forward.com/news/366179/trumps-white-house-welcomes-5-new-far-right-figures/ |title=Trump's White House Welcomes 5 New Far-Right Figures |last=Kestenbaum |first=Sam |date=15 March 2017 |work=The Forward |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807120435/https://forward.com/news/366179/trumps-white-house-welcomes-5-new-far-right-figures/ |archive-date=7 August 2019}} She has appeared on Lana Lokteff's program Radio 3Fourteen.{{cite book |last=Stern |first=Alexandra Minna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_--dDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Lauren+Southern%22+%22white+nationalist%22&pg=PA131 |title=Proud Boys and the White Ethnostate: How the Alt-Right Is Warping the American Imagination |location=Boston, Mass. |publisher=Beacon Press |year=2019 |page=101 |isbn=978-0807063361 |quote=As a home for the small but active alt-right sisterhood, Radio 3Fourteen brings together female alt-righters with their followers on social media. Regulars include ... Canadian white nationalists Lauren Southern and Faith Goldy |access-date=21 March 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404131152/https://books.google.com/books?id=_--dDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Lauren+Southern%22+%22white+nationalist%22&pg=PA131 |url-status=live }}

In September 2024, two Russian state media employees were charged with secretly funnelling almost $10 million to a Tennessee company for the production of political videos to benefit Russia by influencing the United States. The company's description matches that of Tenet Media, which had employed Southern and several right-wing influencers.{{cite news |last1=Suderman |first1=Alan |last2=Swenson |first2=Ali |date=September 5, 2024 |title=Right-wing influencers were duped to work for covert Russian influence operation, US says |url=https://apnews.com/article/russian-interference-presidential-election-influencers-trump-999435273dd39edf7468c6aa34fad5dd |access-date=September 5, 2024 |work=Associated Press |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906172457/https://apnews.com/article/russian-interference-presidential-election-influencers-trump-999435273dd39edf7468c6aa34fad5dd |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Lynch |first1=Sarah |last2=Goudsward |first2=Andrew |last3=Bing |first3=Christopher |date=September 5, 2024 |title=US charges employees of Russia's RT network in crackdown on election influence efforts |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-accuse-russia-effort-influence-2024-election-cnn-2024-09-04/ |access-date=September 5, 2024 |work=Reuters}} Southern's content for Tenet focused on topics such as "anti-white" sentiment, residential school grave sites and Canada's housing crisis, as well as anti-LGBT content.{{Cite web |last=LeBrun |first=Luke |date=2024-09-06 |title=Far-Right Media Outlet Linked to Secret Russian Influence Campaign Produced 50+ Videos Focused on Canada |url=https://pressprogress.ca/far-right-media-outlet-linked-to-secret-russian-influence-campaign-produced-50-videos-focused-on-canada/ |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=PressProgress |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906180014/https://pressprogress.ca/far-right-media-outlet-linked-to-secret-russian-influence-campaign-produced-50-videos-focused-on-canada/ |url-status=live }}

Southern is against multiculturalism.{{cite web |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/most-read-fear-controversial-far-right-pair-s-speech-incite-racism-they-were-mocking-aboriginal-culture |title=Fear controversial far-right pair's speech will incite racism: 'They were mocking Aboriginal culture' |date=2 August 2018 |publisher=TVNZ |access-date=4 August 2018 |archive-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804075703/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/most-read-fear-controversial-far-right-pair-s-speech-incite-racism-they-were-mocking-aboriginal-culture |url-status=live}} She has called the Black Lives Matter movement a "terrorist organisation", and a "divisive, violent movement that has fascistic tendencies".{{cite news |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/07/explainer-what-do-far-right-canadian-speakers-stefan-molyneux-and-lauren-southern-believe.html |title=Explainer: What do far-right Canadian speakers Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern believe? |work=Newshub |date=20 July 2018 |access-date=6 August 2018 |archive-date=6 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806210758/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/07/explainer-what-do-far-right-canadian-speakers-stefan-molyneux-and-lauren-southern-believe.html |url-status=dead}}

She has asked whether a multicultural society would require witch doctors at medical conferences, and has claimed that "multiculturalism will inevitably fail unless 50 per cent of the population believes in Western culture".{{cite news |date=13 July 2018 |title=Lauren Southern in Australia: 'I feel zero shame whatsoever for being white' |work=The Australian |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/lauren-southern-welcomed-by-altright-australian-twitter/news-story/9f9f7dd343668945a2ac196bbb864327 |url-access=subscription}} New Matilda reported that the core theme of her 2018 speaking tour of Australia was the claim "multiculturalism doesn't work".{{cite web |last=Bueskens |first=Petra |date=9 August 2018 |title=It's OK To Be Right, But Careful What You Wish For Lauren Southern |url=https://newmatilda.com/2018/08/09/ok-right-careful-wish-lauren-southern/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811231440/https://newmatilda.com/2018/08/09/ok-right-careful-wish-lauren-southern/ |archive-date=11 August 2018 |access-date=11 August 2018 |publisher=New Matilda}} On the tour, she caused controversy for publicly criticizing an "Asian only" room-share advert that she had photographed and called it "extremely tribalistic". This was an attempt to highlight the supposed failure of multiculturalism, by suggesting that it produced a form of segregation.{{cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/lauren-southern-stirs-up-controversy-sharing-asian-only-ad/news-story/c98f0c441a0197e28a801a9d8c4c290c |title=Lauren Southern stirs up controversy sharing 'Asian only' ad |date=26 July 2018 |work=News.com |publisher=News Corp Australia |access-date=11 August 2018 |archive-date=11 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811234035/https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/lauren-southern-stirs-up-controversy-sharing-asian-only-ad/news-story/c98f0c441a0197e28a801a9d8c4c290c |url-status=live |last1=Bedo |first1=Stephanie}}

Influenced by the French political writer Renaud Camus, Southern promotes the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, which posits that non-white immigration of Muslims will lead to a genocide of white Europeans.{{refn|{{cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Michelle |date=6 May 2019 |title=Trump Helps Bigots Go Viral |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/opinion/trump-far-right-twitter-facebook.html |url-status=live |access-date=22 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119173729/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/opinion/trump-far-right-twitter-facebook.html |archive-date=19 November 2020 |quote=The next year [2018] Southern released a documentary about the threat of 'white genocide' in South Africa. She's a proponent of the 'great replacement' theory, which holds that white Europeans are being systematically supplanted by Muslim migrants.}}{{cite news |last1=Dearden |first1=Lizzie |date=16 March 2019 |title=New Zealand attack: How nonsensical white genocide conspiracy theory cited by alleged gunman is spreading poison around the world |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/new-zealand-christchurch-mosque-attack-white-genocide-conspiracy-theory-a8824671.html |url-status=live |access-date=3 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316233021/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/new-zealand-christchurch-mosque-attack-white-genocide-conspiracy-theory-a8824671.html |archive-date=16 March 2019 |quote=Other proponents of the white genocide conspiracy theory include former journalist Katie Hopkins, InfoWars' Alex Jones and Canadian YouTuber Lauren Southern.}}{{cite journal |last1=Weitzmann |first1=Marc |date=1 April 2019 |title=The Global Language of Hatred Is French |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/new-zealand/2019-04-01/global-language-hatred-french |url-status=live |journal=Foreign Affairs |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190804161102/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/new-zealand/2019-04-01/global-language-hatred-french |archive-date=4 August 2019 |access-date=2 April 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Weiss |first1=Michael |last2=Ebner |first2=Julia |date=14 May 2019 |title=The strange tale of an unlikely racist slogan that went viral – to lethal effect |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/05/14/strange-tale-an-unlikely-racist-slogan-that-went-viral-lethal-effect/ |url-status=live |access-date=22 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126165515/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/05/14/strange-tale-an-unlikely-racist-slogan-that-went-viral-lethal-effect/ |archive-date=26 January 2021}}}} She released a YouTube video under this title in July 2017, which was credited with helping to promote a white nationalist viewpoint. By August 2020, the video could only be accessed privately on Southern's home channel. She has described the theory as: "You have one people and in the space of one generation you have a different people".

Southern has defended the American neo-Nazi Richard B. Spencer, who has advocated for violence against non-whites on multiple occasions. Southern has said "Richard Spencer is not a white supremacist, he is a white nationalist. He believes in a white ethnostate, he doesn't believe in whites being superior."{{cite news |last1=Koul |first1=Saachi |date=19 August 2017 |title=Hey, America, Now You Have Our Worst People. You're Welcome. |language=en |work=BuzzFeed News |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/scaachikoul/hey-america-now-you-have-our-worst-people-youre-welcome |url-status=live |access-date=30 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035530/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/scaachikoul/hey-america-now-you-have-our-worst-people-youre-welcome |archive-date=31 August 2018}}{{cite news |last=Roeper |first=Richard |date=21 October 2020 |title=White Noise highlights the small lives, not the ugly views, of white nationalists |work=Chicago Sun-Times |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2020/10/21/21525891/white-noise-review-lauren-southern-richard-spencer-mike-cernovich-nationalists |url-status=live |access-date=24 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102110016/https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2020/10/21/21525891/white-noise-review-lauren-southern-richard-spencer-mike-cernovich-nationalists |archive-date=2 November 2020 |quote=We also spend time with the infamous neo-Nazi Richard Spencer, who gave a speech in which he boomed 'Hail Trump!' after the election and was one of the primary players in the Charlottesville marches, and Mike Cernovich, a misogynist hatemonger who peddles his brand of B.S. with all the subtlety and earnestness of a 19th century snake oil salesman.}} Spencer has praised Southern's videos.

Southern has been described as a proponent of the white genocide conspiracy theory. In 2018, Southern produced a documentary called Farmlands which falsely claimed that racially motivated farm attacks in South Africa may represent an impending genocide, a common talking point for white nationalists.{{cite news |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/lauren-southern-protesters-out-to-disrupt-right-wing-commentators-event/news-story/5b7db1c243bf7df639f535561679a36f |title=Lauren Southern: protesters out to disrupt right wing commentator's event |work=The Australian |date=20 July 2018 |first=Rebecca |last=Urban |access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-date=11 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311103414/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnews%2Fnation%2Flauren-southern-protesters-out-to-disrupt-right-wing-commentators-event%2Fnews-story%2F5b7db1c243bf7df639f535561679a36f&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=28f4b4c1c841fac93d008dca2fdf9d5f-1615458854 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Baidawi |first1=Adam |date=3 April 2018 |title=South Africa Says Australia Retracted Claim of 'Persecuted' White Farmers |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/world/australia/south-africa-white-farmers.html |url-status=live |access-date=3 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416134948/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/world/australia/south-africa-white-farmers.html |archive-date=16 April 2018 |quote=[South Africa's minister of international relations and cooperation] Ms. [Lindiwe] Sisulu said that nongovernmental organizations had been distributing inaccurate statistics about the killings of white farmers and sowing panic.}}{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Jennifer |date=23 August 2018 |title=Trump's tweet echoing white nationalist propaganda about South African farmers, explained |work=Vox |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/8/23/17772056/south-africa-trump-tweet-afriforum |url-status=live |access-date=3 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823134558/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/8/23/17772056/south-africa-trump-tweet-afriforum |archive-date=23 August 2018 |quote=The story isn't real. There is no evidence of a widespread campaign of violence and murder targeting white farmers in South Africa.}}{{cite book |last=Stern |first=Alexandra Minna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_--dDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Lauren+Southern%22+%22white+nationalist%22&pg=PA131 |title=Proud Boys and the White Ethnostate: How the Alt-Right Is Warping the American Imagination |publisher=Beacon Press |year=2019 |isbn=9780807063361 |location=Boston, Mass. |page=131 |quote=it is an open secret that white nationalists are the primary group making the most noise about the ostensibly out-of-control killing of white South African farmers. Most notably, Lauren Southern, a Canadian nationalist ... released the movie Farmlands. |access-date=21 March 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404131152/https://books.google.com/books?id=_--dDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Lauren+Southern%22+%22white+nationalist%22&pg=PA131 |url-status=live }} While producing the documentary, Southern worked with Charlottesville Unite the Right rally attendee Simon Roche,{{Cite web |last1=McKenzie |first1=David |last2=Swails |first2=Brent |date=November 2019 |title=They're prepping for a race war. And they see Trump as their 'ray of hope' |url=https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2018/11/africa/south-africa-suidlanders-intl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414165924/https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2018/11/africa/south-africa-suidlanders-intl/ |archive-date=14 April 2019 |access-date=6 April 2019 |work=CNN}} a spokesperson for the ethnonationalist (Völkisch) Afrikaner organization Suidlanders,{{Cite news |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/bystron-103.html |title=AfD-Politiker in Südafrika: Schießtraining mit Rassisten |date=18 December 2018 |work=tagesschau.de |access-date=5 April 2019 |publisher=ARD |language=de |trans-title=AfD politician in South Africa: Shooting practice with racists |quote=Nach Einschätzung von Gareth Newham vom südafrikanischen Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria handelt es sich bei den "Suidlanders" um einen Zusammenschluss von völkischen Rassisten: "Ihre Ideologie ist die Überlegenheit der weißen Rasse", sagte Newham. "Ihr einziger Existenzgrund ist die angebliche Verteidigung gegen die Schwarzen. Man kann sie eindeutig als rassistische völkische Organisation beschreiben. [According to Gareth Newham of the South African Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, the "Suidlanders" constitute an association of populist Racists: "Their ideology is the superiority of the white race," says Newham. "Their singular reason for existing is to supposedly defend against blacks. One can clearly describe them as a racist populist organization"] |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405204727/https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/bystron-103.html |url-status=live}} an organization which predicts a race war.{{Cite web |last=Gedye |first=Lloyd |date=2018-03-23 |title=White genocide: How the big lie spread to the US and beyond |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-03-23-00-radical-right-plugs-swart-gevaar/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA |archive-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405033326/https://mg.co.za/article/2018-03-23-00-radical-right-plugs-swart-gevaar/ |url-status=live }}

In May 2017, Southern, along with Martin Sellner and Brittany Pettibone,{{Cite news |last=Broderick |first=Ryan |date=26 July 2017 |title=Everything That's Happened Since A Bunch Of YouTubers Got A Ship To Stop Refugees Getting To Europe |language=en |work=BuzzFeed News |department=World |location=Catania, Italy |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/identitarians-get-a-boat |url-status=live |access-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926221410/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/identitarians-get-a-boat |archive-date=26 September 2020}} took part in an attempt organized by the Identitarian group Génération identitaire to block the passage of an NGO ship, the Aquarius (co-owned by SOS Mediterranée and by Doctors without Borders), which was leaving Sicily for a search-and-rescue mission for ship-wrecked refugees and migrants off the shores of Northern Africa in the Mediterranean Sea.{{cite news |last=Arsalai |first=Mohammed Harun |date=26 May 2017 |title=Who is really responsible for deadly refugee journeys? |work=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2017/5/26/who-is-really-responsible-for-deadly-refugee-journeys |url-status=live |access-date=24 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111191719/https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2017/5/26/who-is-really-responsible-for-deadly-refugee-journeys/ |archive-date=11 November 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.abbynews.com/news/former-langley-libertarian-candidate-detained-in-italy |title=Former Langley Libertarian candidate detained in Italy |last=Claxton |first=Matthew |date=17 May 2017 |work=Abbotsford News |access-date=13 March 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314044039/https://www.abbynews.com/news/former-langley-libertarian-candidate-detained-in-italy |archive-date=14 March 2018}} Claiming that the goal of the activists "was to stop an empty boat from going down to Libya and filling up with illegal migrants", Southern was briefly detained by the Italian Coast Guard. NGO ships often rescue migrants and refugees, who disembark from Libyan shores on unsafe makeshift rafts, and bring them to Sicily.{{Cite news |last=De Lorenzo |first=Giuseppe |date=13 May 2017 |title=Migranti, blitz contro l'Ong: identiatari bloccano la nave che va in Libia |url=https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/cronache/migranti-blitz-contro-long-identiatari-bloccano-nave-che-va-1396686.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607125448/http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/cronache/migranti-blitz-contro-long-identiatari-bloccano-nave-che-va-1396686.html |archive-date=7 June 2017 |access-date=28 January 2022 |website=Il Giornale |language=it}} Regarding her actions, Southern stated: "if the politicians won't stop the boats, we'll stop the boats."

Southern supported similar actions by Defend Europe, which chartered a vessel to track and stop what it claimed was collusion between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and human traffickers. In July 2017, Southern reported Patreon had deleted her account citing concerns about her "raising funds in order to take part in activities that are likely to cause loss of life".{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/patreon-antifa-altright-igd-lauren-southern/ |title=How Patreon stepped into a war between Antifa and the alt-right |last=Gilmour |first=David |date=8 August 2017 |website=The Daily Dot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170809173106/https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/patreon-antifa-altright-igd-lauren-southern/ |archive-date=9 August 2017 |access-date=23 January 2020}} Southern denied these allegations, stating that Defend Europe's actions were likely to save lives and that none of her funding went towards the group.{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Graeme |date=27 July 2017 |title=Why Lauren Southern Got Banned From Patreon |work=Canadaland |url=http://www.canadalandshow.com/lauren-southern-banned-by-patreon |url-status=live |access-date=17 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818133356/http://www.canadalandshow.com/lauren-southern-banned-by-patreon |archive-date=18 August 2017}}

In November 2018, Southern released a video that appeared to show an NGO worker admitting that she had coached asylum seekers on how to speak to immigration officials in order to gain refugee status. BuzzFeed News reported that a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson said: "Greece has rigorous asylum procedures in place, within a robust legal framework."{{cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosebuchanan/far-right-youtube-lauen-southern-secret-recording-refugees |title=A Far-Right YouTuber Has Been Secretly Recording NGO Workers Inside One Of Europe's Worst Refugee Camps |last1=Buchanan |first1=Rose Troup |date=13 November 2018 |work=BuzzFeed News |access-date=26 May 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614083518/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosebuchanan/far-right-youtube-lauen-southern-secret-recording-refugees |archive-date=14 June 2019 |last2=Broderick |first2=Ryan}} In May 2019, Southern released a YouTube documentary, Borderless, about the refugee and migrant crisis. The film was temporarily taken down by YouTube.{{cite news |last1=Dougherty |first1=Michael Brendan |date=30 May 2019 |title=Silicon Valley, America's De Facto Censor |work=National Review |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/05/silicon-valley-social-media-companies-censors/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601091606/https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/05/silicon-valley-social-media-companies-censors/ |archive-date=1 June 2019}}

Southern said transgender people have a "genuine delusion", adding "It's body dysmorphia and that is a mental illness".{{cite news |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/victoria-police-charge-lauren-southern/news-story/9986324084f649beaa9cc568e51523e0 |title=Women 'not developed' to be CEOs, activist Lauren Southern says |work=The Australian |date=20 July 2018 |first=Rhian |last=Deutrom |access-date=5 August 2018 |archive-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113130158/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/victoria-police-charge-lauren-southern/news-story/9986324084f649beaa9cc568e51523e0 |url-status=live}} She criticised legal recognition for changing one's gender, because people doing so might be dishonest.

Southern has spoken in opposition to feminism{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/it-s-ok-to-be-white-far-right-youtuber-lauren-southern-lands-in-australia-20180714-p4zrgq.html |title='It's OK to be white': Far right YouTuber Lauren Southern lands in Australia |first=Pallavi |last=Singhal |date=14 July 2018 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=6 January 2021 |archive-date=15 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115050023/https://www.smh.com.au/national/it-s-ok-to-be-white-far-right-youtuber-lauren-southern-lands-in-australia-20180714-p4zrgq.html |url-status=live}} and has said that women are "not psychologically developed to hold leadership positions", and "not going to be as great being CEOs". In a November 2017 YouTube video titled "Why I'm Not Married", Southern said: "I am not trying to sell the idea that myself, as a 22-year-old, needs to be married right now for the sake of traditionalism and not being a degenerate. What is also just completely shocking to me is the utter lack of understanding of nuance." She also said that women should be able to choose their own path in life without being attacked for it.{{Cite web |last=Leah |first=Rachel |date=2017-12-04 |title="Alt-right" women are upset that "alt-right" men are treating them terribly |url=https://www.salon.com/2017/12/04/alt-right-women-are-upset-that-alt-right-men-are-treating-them-terribly/ |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Salon |language=en |archive-date=8 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908223752/https://www.salon.com/2017/12/04/alt-right-women-are-upset-that-alt-right-men-are-treating-them-terribly/ |url-status=live }}

In June 2015, Southern reported on the Vancouver SlutWalk, a protest march of sexual assault survivors, for The Rebel Media. She said her protest sign stating "There Is No Rape Culture in the West", was torn up.{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Victoria |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/woman-holds-sign-at-feminist-rally-saying-there-is-no-rape-culture-in-the-west-10310370.html |title=Woman holds sign at feminist rally saying 'there is no rape culture in the West' |work=The Independent |date=10 June 2015 |access-date=22 December 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728194802/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/woman-holds-sign-at-feminist-rally-saying-there-is-no-rape-culture-in-the-west-10310370.html |url-status=live}} She shouted to the protest in response: "Go to Africa and you will see a real rape culture!".{{cite web |url=https://www.themarysue.com/the-triggering-is-dumb/ |title=Internet Jerks Pledge to Make Internet Even Worse in #TheTriggering |last=Lachenal |first=Jessica |date=9 March 2016 |website=The Mary Sue |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923230529/http://www.themarysue.com/the-triggering-is-dumb |archive-date=23 September 2016 |access-date=3 September 2016}}{{Cite web |last=Cloutier |first=Jean-François |date=14 June 2015 |title=Lauren Southern troll la SlutWalk en disant "il n'y a pas de culture du viol en occident" |url=http://www.tvqc.com/2015/06/lauren-southern-troll-la-slutwalk-en-disant-il-ny-a-pas-de-culture-du-viol-en-occident |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701003911/http://www.tvqc.com/2015/06/lauren-southern-troll-la-slutwalk-en-disant-il-ny-a-pas-de-culture-du-viol-en-occident |archive-date=1 July 2017 |access-date=28 January 2022 |website=TVQC}} In third world countries, she said, "men can get away with rape". According to Southern: "It's insane to focus on this one issue and say that we are living in a rape culture. Men are getting fired from their jobs just for making rape jokes{{snd}}not raping". A protester from a Canadian rape crisis centre told her fewer than an estimated 10% of rapes are reported.

In a 2017 YouTube segment titled "How Feminism Made Women Unhappy", Southern said: "Traditionalism offers a lot of stability in people's life, it offers a guide for how to lead them to the happiest life." Together with Tara McCarthy and Brittany Pettibone, she advocated for women to have fewer sexual partners, saying that the left holds "a cultural Marxist agenda that wants to destroy the family."{{cite news |date=2017-11-05 |access-date=2022-06-26 |first=Shachar |last=Peled |title=Ladies' Night at the Alt-right: Meet the Women Trying to Soften the White Nationalist Movement |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2017-11-05/ty-article/.premium/meet-the-women-trying-to-soften-the-white-nationalist-movement/0000017f-dc61-db22-a17f-fcf121f40000 |newspaper=Haaretz |archive-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623013044/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2017-11-05/ty-article/.premium/meet-the-women-trying-to-soften-the-white-nationalist-movement/0000017f-dc61-db22-a17f-fcf121f40000 |url-status=live }}

During March 2016, she visited Vancouver for an event at which Augustus Sol Invictus was due to appear. A fringe candidate for a Florida senate seat, Invictus was banned from entering Canada and was absent. At this event, a protester poured a bottle of urine over Southern's head while she was engaging with LGBTQ protesters at a rally in Vancouver, arguing for two human genders.{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/activist-pours-bottle-of-urine-on-rebel-reporter-during-anti-fascist-in-vancouver |title=Activist accused of pouring bottle of urine on Rebel reporter during 'anti-fascist' rally in Vancouver |last=Raptis |first=Mike |date=7 March 2016 |work=National Post |access-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200124035423/https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/activist-pours-bottle-of-urine-on-rebel-reporter-during-anti-fascist-in-vancouver |archive-date=24 January 2020 |agency=Postmedia News}}{{cite news |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/31043202/protester-pours-urine-on-journalist-for-hateful-comments |title=Protester pours urine on journalist for 'hateful' comments |last=Christian |first=Natasha |date=8 March 2016 |work=Yahoo! News |access-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611014851/https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/31043202/protester-pours-urine-on-journalist-for-hateful-comments |archive-date=11 June 2016}}

In April 2017, Southern was one of several scheduled speakers at a Patriots' Day rally in Berkeley, California.{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/04/26/news/canadian-connection-extremist-fringe-inside-berkeley-violence |title=Exclusive: The Canadian extremists inside the Berkeley violence |last1=Robb |first1=Amanda |date=26 April 2017 |work=National Observer |publisher=Observer Media Group |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170618195930/http://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/04/26/news/canadian-connection-extremist-fringe-inside-berkeley-violence |archive-date=18 June 2017 |access-date=13 March 2018 |quote=On April 15, American activists, many of whom support closed U.S. borders, held a "Patriots Day" rally in Berkeley, California. One of the marquee speakers was Lauren Southern, a Canadian.}} The rally led to a riot between pro-Trump demonstrators and anti-Trump counter-protesters.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/berkeley-braces-for-latest-face-off-between-trump-supporters-detractors/15620/ |title=Clashes Break Out at Opposing Rallies in Berkeley |last1=Mahbubani |first1=Rhea |date=15 April 2017 |access-date=15 April 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416034700/http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Berkeley-Braces-for-Latest-Face-Off-Between-Trump-Supporters-Detractors-419535563.html |archive-date=16 April 2017 |publisher=NBC Bay Area |last2=Smith |first2=Christie}}

In June 2018, she visited Moscow, Russia, to meet Aleksandr Dugin, a political philosopher and proponent of a Russian-dominated Eurasia. A multi-part interview of Dugin, conducted by Southern and Brittany Pettibone, was published on YouTube under the title "From Russia With Love".{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jason |date=16 July 2018 |title=News Corp Australia's promotion of Lauren Southern is disturbing |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2018/jul/16/news-corps-promotion-of-lauren-southern-is-disturbing |url-status=live |access-date=22 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717153205/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2018/jul/16/news-corps-promotion-of-lauren-southern-is-disturbing |archive-date=17 July 2018}}{{cite news |last=Weill |first=Kelly |date=26 July 2018 |title=American Racists Look for Allies in Russia |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/american-racists-look-for-allies-in-russia |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125033133/https://www.thedailybeast.com/american-racists-look-for-allies-in-russia |archive-date=25 November 2020}}{{cite news |last=Zappone |first=Chris |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/the-high-price-of-white-genocide-politics-for-australia-20180724-p4zt9k.html |title=The high price of 'white genocide' politics for Australia |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=12 August 2018 |access-date=3 January 2021 |archive-date=30 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830031924/https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/the-high-price-of-white-genocide-politics-for-australia-20180724-p4zt9k.html |url-status=live}} "It’s incorrect to call him a fascist," Southern tweeted. In the second video, she said Dugin had both "enthralled" and "open[ed] so many doors" for her.{{cite news |last=Michel |first=Casey |date=10 June 2018 |title=Why is this Pizzagate truther meeting with a Russian neo-fascist? |work=ThinkProgress |url=https://archive.thinkprogress.org/why-is-this-pizzagate-truther-meeting-with-a-russian-neo-fascist-b84eb73aa549/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222145428/https://archive.thinkprogress.org/why-is-this-pizzagate-truther-meeting-with-a-russian-neo-fascist-b84eb73aa549/ |archive-date=22 December 2020}} Dugin spoke on a panel with the two women in Moscow.{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Alexander Reid |date=13 June 2018 |title=How Trump's Foreign Policy Is Making Russian Fascism Great Again |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-how-trump-s-foreign-policy-is-making-russian-fascism-great-again-1.6167199 |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218012931/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-how-trump-s-foreign-policy-is-making-russian-fascism-great-again-1.6167199 |archive-date=18 December 2020}}

Websites for crowdfunding (GoFundMe) and business services (Patreon) barred Southern from using their services.{{cite news |last=Roose |first=Kevin |date=9 August 2017 |title=The Alt-Right Finds a New Enemy in Silicon Valley |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/business/alt-right-silicon-valley-google-memo.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930202254/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/business/alt-right-silicon-valley-google-memo.html |archive-date=30 September 2017}}{{cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Blake |date=2 August 2017 |title=PayPal, GoFundMe, And Patreon Banned A Bunch Of People Associated With The Alt-Right. Here's Why |work=BuzzFeed News |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/blakemontgomery/the-alt-right-has-a-payment-processor-problem |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221205215/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/blakemontgomery/the-alt-right-has-a-payment-processor-problem |archive-date=21 December 2020}} YouTube demonetized her channel by June 2017 and was no longer running advertisements on it.

In February 2018, Southern, along with Pettibone and Caolan Robertson, distributed flyers in the English town of Luton describing Allah as "gay", as part of a social experiment video.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-43393035 |title=Why 3 anti-Islam activists were refused entry to the UK |date=14 March 2018 |access-date=3 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318142459/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-43393035 |archive-date=18 March 2018 |work=BBC News}}

In March 2018, Southern was denied entry to the United Kingdom while waiting in Calais. It was reported that Southern was due to meet Austrian Martin Sellner and his American partner, Pettibone, both far-right activists, while the three of them were in Britain; the couple were deported from Britain a few days earlier.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lauren-southern-far-right-canada-racist-calais-detain-uk-ban-enter-visa-a8254116.html |title=Far-right Canadian activist detained in Calais and banned from entering UK |last1=Oppenheim |first1=Maya |date=13 March 2018 |work=The Independent |access-date=2 April 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180318204635/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lauren-southern-far-right-canada-racist-calais-detain-uk-ban-enter-visa-a8254116.html |archive-date=18 March 2018}} Southern was questioned under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Her denial of entry was due to her intentions during her visit.{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/far-right-figures-say-they-were-deported-from-britain |title=Canadian far-right activist Lauren Southern barred from Britain for anti-Muslim views |date=12 March 2018 |work=National Post |access-date=2 August 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180313161751/http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/far-right-figures-say-they-were-deported-from-britain |archive-date=13 March 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-security-deportations/british-authorities-ban-three-foreign-right-wing-activists-idUSKCN1GO2LN |title=British authorities ban three foreign right-wing activists |last=Hosenball |first=Mark |date=12 March 2018 |access-date=3 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320082821/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-security-deportations/british-authorities-ban-three-foreign-right-wing-activists-idUSKCN1GO2LN |archive-date=20 March 2018 |work=Reuters}}{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/nigel-farage-defends-right-wing-canadian-activist-lauren-southern-who-was-barred-from-uk-a3790816.html |title=Lauren Southern defended by Nigel Farage after right wing Canadian activist was barred from UK |last=Grafton-Green |first=Patrick |date=15 March 2018 |work=Evening Standard |location=London |access-date=23 July 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621231305/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/nigel-farage-defends-right-wing-canadian-activist-lauren-southern-who-was-barred-from-uk-a3790816.html |archive-date=21 June 2019}}

Tucker Carlson of Fox News, describing Southern and the others as reporters, invited Katie Hopkins onto his programme to defend them against supposed political correctness responsible for their non-admission.{{cite news |date=13 March 2018 |title=Tucker Carlson defends white nationalist "Pizzagate" conspiracy theorist after she was barred from entering U.K. |work=Media Matters for America |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/tucker-carlson/tucker-carlson-defends-white-nationalist-pizzagate-conspiracy-theorist-after-she-was |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207205654/https://www.mediamatters.org/tucker-carlson/tucker-carlson-defends-white-nationalist-pizzagate-conspiracy-theorist-after-she-was |archive-date=7 December 2020}}{{cite news |last=Marcotte |first=Amanda |date=19 March 2018 |title=Alt-right is dying, but powerful conservatives are mainstreaming its ideas |work=Salon |url=https://www.salon.com/2018/03/19/alt-right-is-dying-but-powerful-conservatives-are-mainstreaming-its-ideas/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222154413/https://www.salon.com/2018/03/19/alt-right-is-dying-but-powerful-conservatives-are-mainstreaming-its-ideas/ |archive-date=22 December 2020}}

Before her period of residency in Australia during her brief retirement and afterwards, Southern planned a speaking tour of Australia in July 2018. Australia's Department of Home Affairs denied Lauren Southern an Electronic Travel Authority visa, saying it was "not a working visa".{{cite news |title=Visa approved for Canadian who warns Australian way of life is under threat |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/visa-approved-for-canadian-who-warns-australian-way-of-life-is-under-threat |publisher=SBS |access-date=10 July 2018 |date=10 July 2018 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710094059/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/visa-approved-for-canadian-who-warns-australian-way-of-life-is-under-threat |url-status=live}} She intended to charge $79 for a basic ticket and up to $749 for an "intimate dinner".{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Frank |date=10 July 2018 |title=Australian government declines visa for right-wing activist Lauren Southern ahead of speaking tour |work=News.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/australian-government-declines-visa-for-rightwing-activist-lauren-southern-ahead-of-speaking-tour/news-story/7b9a15a56981e4508e5305887f85c0e3 |url-status=live |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116010341/https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/australian-government-declines-visa-for-rightwing-activist-lauren-southern-ahead-of-speaking-tour/news-story/7b9a15a56981e4508e5305887f85c0e3 |archive-date=16 January 2019}} The Australian government allowed her to enter the country once she had the correct visa.{{cite web |date=10 July 2018 |title=Lauren Southern's Australian visa approved after all |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/rightwing-activist-lauren-southerns-australian-visa-approved-after-unusually-prolonged-process/news-story/5e3611992c9edfeb2c65b9db47d901d0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710195954/https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/rightwing-activist-lauren-southerns-australian-visa-approved-after-unusually-prolonged-process/news-story/5e3611992c9edfeb2c65b9db47d901d0 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |access-date=10 July 2018 |website=News.com.au}} Arriving at Brisbane airport, she wore an "It's OK to be white" shirt.{{cite news |last1=Chung |first1=Frank |date=13 July 2018 |title=Lauren Southern lands in Brisbane wearing 'It's okay to be white' T-shirt |newspaper=News.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/rightwing-activist-lauren-southern-touches-down-in-brisbane-wearing-its-okay-to-be-white-tshirt/news-story/d750c1b70a5e969ad4190540909ac75d |url-status=live |access-date=15 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715181228/https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/rightwing-activist-lauren-southern-touches-down-in-brisbane-wearing-its-okay-to-be-white-tshirt/news-story/d750c1b70a5e969ad4190540909ac75d |archive-date=15 July 2018}}

When she asked people on the street in Melbourne "Should we kill Lauren Southern?", many had never heard of her.{{cite news |date=28 July 2018 |title='You're not welcome': Southern's run-in with police |work=The Queensland Times |url=https://www.qt.com.au/news/youre-not-welcome-southerns-runin-with-sydney-poli/3478516/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801183340/https://www.qt.com.au/news/youre-not-welcome-southerns-runin-with-sydney-poli/3478516/ |archive-date=1 August 2018}} A speaking event in Melbourne was opposed by more than 100 protesters.{{cite news |title=Protesters disrupt Lauren Southern event in Melbourne |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/protesters-disrupt-lauren-southern-event-in-melbourne |publisher=SBS |access-date=31 July 2018 |date=20 July 2018 |archive-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731000129/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/protesters-disrupt-lauren-southern-event-in-melbourne |url-status=live}}

There were no protesters at her event in Sydney, where ticket holders were notified of the venue by receiving a text on the day.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Douglas |date=30 July 2018 |title=Far-right Canadian duo's vile rampage against Aboriginal culture at Sydney event |publisher=SBS |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2017/07/30/far-right-canadian-duos-vile-rampage-against-aboriginal-culture-sydney-event |url-status=live |access-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730230015/https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2017/07/30/far-right-canadian-duos-vile-rampage-against-aboriginal-culture-sydney-event |archive-date=30 July 2018}} The Sydney event included a $200 meet-and-greet, a $500 VIP meet-and-greet and a $750 dinner.{{cite news |last1=Kinsella |first1=Luke |date=30 July 2018 |title=What I learnt about the far right from Lauren Southern |work=News.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/true-stories/what-i-learnt-about-the-far-right-from-lauren-southern/news-story/0443ce7a7a09dc8431776f469b34ae0d |url-status=live |access-date=1 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731062217/https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/true-stories/what-i-learnt-about-the-far-right-from-lauren-southern/news-story/0443ce7a7a09dc8431776f469b34ae0d |archive-date=31 July 2018}}

In Brisbane, Southern mentioned bombing the Australian city of Melbourne, citing and expanding upon the Bible story about finding good people in Sodom and Gomorrah. She ended: "We did find a few hundred good ones there{{snd}}there is a silent majority I believe in Melbourne so we can’t nuke it yet guys I’m sorry."{{cite news |date=4 August 2018 |title=Lauren Southern insults Melbourne, city fires back |work=News.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/news/lauren-southern-insults-melbourne-city-fires-back/news-story/820aeccdc9e8f0ddf936b878c195a81a |url-status=live |access-date=14 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814071249/https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/news/lauren-southern-insults-melbourne-city-fires-back/news-story/820aeccdc9e8f0ddf936b878c195a81a |archive-date=14 August 2018}} She was opposed by around 60 protesters.{{cite news |last1=Chirgwin |first1=Sophie |date=30 July 2018 |title=Alt right activist Lauren Southern targeted in Brisbane |work=The Courier-Mail |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/alt-right-activist-lauren-southern-targeted-in-brisbane/news-story/8ba241e85a0a8dbdfe95cededab53406 |url-status=live |access-date=3 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730122458/https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/alt-right-activist-lauren-southern-targeted-in-brisbane/news-story/8ba241e85a0a8dbdfe95cededab53406 |archive-date=30 July 2018}}

File:Stephen Berry speaking at the Free Speech Coalition protest, Auckland 2018.jpg speaking at the free speech protest in defence of Southern and Molyneux, Auckland 2018{{Cite web |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/14-07-2018/what-did-the-free-speech-protestors-actually-have-to-say/ |title=What did the Free Speech protestors actually have to say? |first=Alex |last=Braae |date=14 July 2018 |access-date=22 February 2021 |archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214050326/https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/14-07-2018/what-did-the-free-speech-protestors-actually-have-to-say/ |url-status=live}}]]In July 2018, Southern applied for a travel visa to visit New Zealand for a speaking tour with Canadian podcaster and YouTuber Stefan Molyneux. Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway described their views as "repugnant", but said they met immigration character requirements and cleared their entry.{{cite news |last1=Satherley |first1=Dan |title=Protests outside Lauren Southern speaking gig in Melbourne |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2018/07/protests-outside-lauren-southern-speaking-gig-in-melbourne.html |access-date=21 July 2018 |publisher=Newshub |date=21 July 2018 |archive-date=21 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721022214/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2018/07/protests-outside-lauren-southern-speaking-gig-in-melbourne.html |url-status=dead}} The pair had not secured a venue, as Auckland Council had cancelled their initial booking, citing health and safety concerns.{{cite news |last1=Fonseka |first1=Dileepa |date=20 July 2018 |title=Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux have 'visas in hand' and will come to NZ, organiser says |work=Stuff |publisher=Auckland Now |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/105625016/Lauren-Southern-and-Stefan-Molyneux-have-visas-in-hand-and-will-come-to-NZ-organiser-says |url-status=live |access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720052106/https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/105625016/Lauren-Southern-and-Stefan-Molyneux-have-visas-in-hand-and-will-come-to-NZ-organiser-says |archive-date=20 July 2018}} The pair briefly cancelled and then resumed the tour over difficulties with the venue.{{cite news |last1=Niall |first1=Todd |date=25 July 2018 |title=Right-wing Canadian speakers' visit canned, legal action on back burner |work=Stuff |publisher=Auckland Now |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/105744525/rightwing-canadian-speakers-visit-canned-legal-action-on-back-burner |url-status=live |access-date=25 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725130241/https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/105744525/rightwing-canadian-speakers-visit-canned-legal-action-on-back-burner |archive-date=25 July 2018}}{{cite news |title=Canadian far-right speakers Lauren Southern, Stefan Molyneux coming to New Zealand after securing Auckland speaking venue |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/canadian-far-right-speakers-lauren-southern-stefan-molyneux-coming-new-zealand-after-securing-auckland-speaking-venue |access-date=26 July 2018 |publisher=1News |date=26 July 2018 |archive-date=26 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726170119/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/canadian-far-right-speakers-lauren-southern-stefan-molyneux-coming-new-zealand-after-securing-auckland-speaking-venue |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Todd |first1=Niall |date=26 July 2018 |title=Canadian Right-wing speakers' Auckland tour is on, with a new venue |work=Stuff |publisher=Auckland Now |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/105780606/canadian-rightwing-speakers-auckland-tour-is-on-with-a-new-venue |url-status=live |access-date=26 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726130035/https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/105780606/canadian-rightwing-speakers-auckland-tour-is-on-with-a-new-venue |archive-date=26 July 2018}} The subsequent booking of a private venue was revoked by its owners.{{cite news |last1=Truebridge |first1=Nick |last2=Todd |first2=Niall |date=3 August 2018 |title=Auckland's Powerstation owner apologises for booking controversial speakers |work=Stuff |publisher=Auckland Now |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/106002242/aucklands-powerstation-owner-apologises-for-booking-controversial-speakers |url-status=live |access-date=3 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720091533/https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/106002242/aucklands-powerstation-owner-apologises-for-booking-controversial-speakers |archive-date=20 July 2019}} In retaliation, their venue was vandalised.{{cite news |title=Powerstation vandalised after cancelling Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux event |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/08/powerstation-vandalised-after-cancelling-lauren-southern-and-stefan-molyneux-event.html |access-date=6 August 2018 |publisher=Newshub |date=6 August 2018 |archive-date=6 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806013827/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/08/powerstation-vandalised-after-cancelling-lauren-southern-and-stefan-molyneux-event.html |url-status=dead}} The failure to find a venue was celebrated by around 1,000 protesters, who said the planned event had nothing to do with freedom of speech. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand is "hostile" to the views of the speakers and, "I think you'll see from the reaction they've had from New Zealanders that their views are not those that are shared by this country, and I'm quite proud of that".{{cite news |last1=Ensor |first1=Jamie |last2=Macdonald |first2=Laura |title=NZ 'hostile' to views of Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux – Jacinda Arden |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/08/nz-hostile-to-views-of-lauren-southern-and-stefan-molyneux-jacinda-arden.html |access-date=4 August 2018 |publisher=Newshub |date=4 August 2018 |archive-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804095057/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/08/nz-hostile-to-views-of-lauren-southern-and-stefan-molyneux-jacinda-arden.html |url-status=dead}}

In August 2018, the Mayor of Auckland, Phil Goff, tweeted that Council venues should not be used to "stir up ethnic or religious tensions", and that "we've got no obligation at all" to provide a venue for hate speech.{{cite news |date=6 July 2018 |title=Controversial Canadian speaker denied visa as Auckland agency cancels booking |work=Stuff |publisher=Auckland Now |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/105302179/controversial-canadian-speaker-denied-visa-as-auckland-agency-cancels-booking |url-status=live |access-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929194530/https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/105302179/controversial-canadian-speaker-denied-visa-as-auckland-agency-cancels-booking |archive-date=29 September 2018}} For agreeing with the cancellation, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson received death threats.{{cite news |title=Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson receives death threats |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/07/green-party-co-leader-marama-davidson-receives-death-threats.html |access-date=4 August 2018 |publisher=Newshub |date=8 July 2018 |archive-date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718084005/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/07/green-party-co-leader-marama-davidson-receives-death-threats.html |url-status=dead}}

Tāmaki Anti Fascist Action spokesperson Sina Brown-Davis said her group feared "dehumanising depictions of indigenous people" in New Zealand.{{cite news |last1=Theunissen |first1=Matthew |title=Most read: Fear controversial far-right pair's speech will incite racism: 'They were mocking Aboriginal culture' |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/most-read-fear-controversial-far-right-pair-s-speech-incite-racism-they-were-mocking-aboriginal-culture |access-date=3 August 2018 |publisher=1News |date=2 August 2018 |archive-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804075703/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/most-read-fear-controversial-far-right-pair-s-speech-incite-racism-they-were-mocking-aboriginal-culture |url-status=live}} Molyneux had called Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people "the lowest rung of civilisation".{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Douglas |title=Far-right Canadian duo's vile rampage against Aboriginal culture at Sydney event |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2017/07/30/far-right-canadian-duos-vile-rampage-against-aboriginal-culture-sydney-event |access-date=3 August 2018 |publisher=SBS |date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730230015/https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2017/07/30/far-right-canadian-duos-vile-rampage-against-aboriginal-culture-sydney-event |url-status=live}}

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson added, "Aotearoa does not stand for your messages of racism, hatred and especially white supremacy".{{cite news |title="Hope NZ enjoys shariah" – Alt-right speakers' agent responds to having their Auckland event at The Powerstation cancelled last-minute |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/hope-nz-enjoys-shariah-alt-right-speakers-agent-responds-having-their-auckland-event-powerstation-cancelled-last-minute |access-date=4 August 2018 |publisher=1News |date=4 August 2018 |archive-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805021631/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/hope-nz-enjoys-shariah-alt-right-speakers-agent-responds-having-their-auckland-event-powerstation-cancelled-last-minute |url-status=live}} Justice Minister Andrew Little said the speakers "clearly have misled people" in trying to secure the venue.{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?objectid=12101189 |title=Andrew Little happy 'insidious' alt-right pair leaving the country as bomb threat claim emerges |work=NZ Herald |first=David |last=Fisher |date=4 August 2018 |access-date=6 August 2018 |archive-date=7 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807032802/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?objectid=12101189 |url-status=live}} TV personality Te Hamua Nikora said the pair were against multiculturalism, unlike New Zealand.{{cite news |title=Watch: Canadian far-right speakers blame threats of violence amounting to 'straight up terrorism' for Auckland event cancellation |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-canadian-far-right-speakers-blame-threats-violence-amounting-straight-up-terrorism-auckland-event-cancellation |access-date=3 August 2018 |publisher=1News |date=3 August 2018 |archive-date=3 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803094222/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-canadian-far-right-speakers-blame-threats-violence-amounting-straight-up-terrorism-auckland-event-cancellation |url-status=live}} The minimum ticket price for the cancelled Auckland event was $99.{{cite news |title=Auckland venue cancels controversial far-right Canadian pair's speaking event |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/auckland-venue-cancels-controversial-far-right-canadian-pairs-speaking-event |access-date=3 August 2018 |publisher=1News |date=3 August 2018 |archive-date=14 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114203849/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/auckland-venue-cancels-controversial-far-right-canadian-pairs-speaking-event |url-status=live}}

On 2 June 2019, Southern announced her retirement from political activism on her website. She stated that her reasons for leaving were that she needed to move on and find fulfillment in a more private capacity.

On 19 June 2020, Southern announced in a YouTube video her return and new plans, expressing some remorse for her previous hardline stances. Daniel Lombroso, in his article for The Atlantic, was skeptical of her change, stating: "She kept telling me she had grown more 'compassionate,' but whenever I asked her pointedly if she regretted her past work, I got obfuscation and tactical apologies."

In June 2023, Southern moved back to Canada with her son after publicly revealing she had separated from her husband.{{Cite web |date=9 June 2023 |title=Lauren Southern opens up about her husband and mental health battle in a detailed post |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/06/09/lauren-southern-opens-up-about-her-husband-and-mental-health-battle-in-a-detailed-post/|website=HITC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628134507/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/06/09/lauren-southern-opens-up-about-her-husband-and-mental-health-battle-in-a-detailed-post/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2023}} Her ex-husband is of part-Asian descent and is credited with introducing her to his Catholic faith.

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