Patrick Bet-David Says Ben Shapiro Canceled Podcast Appearance After Fuentes Interview

Podcaster Patrick Bet-David weighed in on the MAGA split over Tucker Carlson’s controversial interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes on Friday, telling his viewers that conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro canceled his interview with Bet-David after his own interview with Fuentes last month.

Speaking on the PBD Podcast, Bet-David said that Shapiro’s virulent criticism of Carlson and his defenders only serves to raise Fuentes’ profile.

“Ben Shapiro, the more they talk about Nick Fuentes, the more they raise his profile. Nick Fuentes, if I’m his agent, I would say, ‘Nick, phenomenal. Your number one PR rep this week was Ben Shapiro,'” he said. “‘Send them a $10 GoFundMe and congratulate him saying thank you for supporting the cause and raising awareness to who I am.'”

The podcaster then slammed Shapiro for pulling out of his interview with Bet-David, calling his actions “unattractive.”

“When I said, you know, I want to have Nick on, I looked at the booking team after Ben was confirmed. I said, ‘If they cancel, it’s because of me agreeing to have Nick on.’ […] Two weeks later, Ben Shapiro cancels. Why? Why do you cancel? So, what is the brand? Why not have conversations?” said Bet-David. “We’re not a firebrand. We’re not. ‘Well, let’s see. Maybe next year.’ No, I’m not interested. Don’t bigshot yourself. It’s unattractive.”

He went on to criticize Shapiro’s past political takes before warning that continued Republican infighting could lead to Democrats sweeping the midterms in 2026.

“Quite frankly, when it comes down to Ben, Ben was wrong with [Donald] Trump in 2016. Ben was wrong with [Ron] Dantis in 202o. I would sit down and tell him like, ‘What are you talking about Dantis in 2024?’ So, they’ve been, you know, it’s not like they’ve been also right on a lot of these things. Guys, none of us have been.”

He continued:

I just think, you know, right now if you guys don’t buckle down and get locked in, 2025 ain’t going to be a red wave. 2025 is going to be a blue wave that comes through because they’re watching all these “let me tell you, Nick Fuentes is right. Let me tell you, Ben Shapiro is right. Let you Tucker Carlson is right. Let me tell you.” Oh, let me tell you, Democrats won. How did this happen? You did it.

Bet-David proposed his own solution for the MAGA split: a panel moderated by conservative media figure Megyn Kelly.

“So, Mr. Ben Shapiro, respectfully, Mr. Tucker Carlson, respectfully, you know what would be a great panel on stage is Ben, Tucker, Megan, Nick, Candace [Owens]. I think Megan can pull this off. I think Megan could pull this off to bring this together,” he said.

Kelly discussed the controversy with both Carlson and Shapiro during an event on Thursday, leading to more than one fiery moment.

“You’re not my editor. Buzz off. I mean, I don’t know. You want to go yell at Nick Fuentes? I’ll give you his cell. Call him and go sit and yell at him and feel virtuous or whatever,” Carlson told Kelly in defense of his interview.

Watch above via the PBD Podcast.