Corey’s widow, Helen Comperatore, has publicly disputed the theory. She said they were running late, missed the opening and accepted an offer from a man to move closer. Helen did not express suspicion of a larger scheme and told the BBC she is angry about mistakes that day, saying, "I'm angry because there were a lot of mistakes made that day, and it didn't have to happen."
Social media users sharply criticized Owens, urging her to stop speculating and to consider the family’s pain. Many defended the widow and condemned suggestions that might harm grieving relatives. Owens has a history of questioning the Butler incident and has discussed similar theories in prior conversations, including an exchange with Hunter Biden on her show.