The satirical news publication The Onion has won the bidding for Alex Jones’ Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, backed by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims whom Jones owes more than $1 billion in defamation judgments for calling the massacre a hoax, the families announced Thursday. The sale price was not immediately disclosed.
The families’ support for The Onion’s bid represents a strategic move to prevent Infowars from falling into the hands of Jones’ allies, who might have continued to spread his harmful conspiracies. The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars marks a significant turning point in the fight against misinformation and the legacy of Jones’ harmful rhetoric.
The Onion’s Plans for Infowars
It remains unclear how The Onion plans to utilize the conspiracy theory platform, including its website, social media accounts, studio in Austin, Texas, trademarks and video archive. While the Chicago-based Onion has not publicly announced its specific intentions, the company’s history of satire and sharp commentary suggests a potential reimagining of Infowars as a platform for humor and critical analysis of the misinformation that Jones propagated.
The Families’ Victory
The families of Sandy Hook victims have been relentless in their pursuit of justice for the defamation and emotional distress they suffered due to Jones’ false claims. Their backing of The Onion’s bid reflects their commitment to preventing Infowars from becoming a platform for further harmful misinformation.
“The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for,” Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was killed in the 2012 shooting in Connecticut, said in a statement provided by his lawyers. This victory marks a significant step forward in their fight for accountability and an end to the spread of harmful lies.
Jones’ Response
Jones has expressed his discontent with The Onion’s acquisition, claiming he plans to file legal challenges to stop it. He confirmed the sale in a social media video, claiming that if his detractors bought Infowars, he would move his daily broadcasts and product sales to a new studio, websites and social media accounts. His reaction underscores his ongoing commitment to promoting his conspiracy theories and his defiance in the face of legal setbacks.
The Onion’s Perspective
The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars represents a unique opportunity to challenge the spread of disinformation and to expose the absurdity of conspiracy theories. The company’s CEO, Ben Collins, has indicated that the relaunch of Infowars in January 2025 will focus on parody, mocking “weird internet personalities” like Jones. This approach aligns with The Onion’s tradition of satirical commentary and its long-standing commitment to holding power accountable.
A New Chapter for Infowars
The acquisition of Infowars by The Onion marks a turning point in the fight against disinformation. It signifies the power of holding individuals and institutions accountable for their harmful actions. The future of Infowars remains uncertain, but it is clear that The Onion plans to use the platform to challenge the spread of misinformation and to engage in a new form of satire, one that is grounded in the realities of the internet age. The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars represents a bold step in the ongoing battle against misinformation and a reminder that even the most toxic platforms can be transformed into tools for positive change.
The Onion's New Infowars Vision
The Onion, known for its satirical humor and sharp social commentary, plans to relaunch Infowars in January 2025 as a platform for parody. This new iteration will satirize “weird internet personalities” like Alex Jones, marking a stark contrast to the conspiracy-driven content that Infowars previously disseminated. The Onion’s commitment to humor and social commentary will likely transform Infowars into a platform that exposes the absurdity of misinformation and the dangers of uncritical thinking.
The relaunch will also see Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending gun violence, as an exclusive advertiser. This partnership represents a strategic move by The Onion to counter the gun industry’s powerful lobbying efforts and to promote a more sensible approach to gun control. By integrating its satirical commentary with a message of responsible gun control, The Onion aims to reach a wider audience and to promote positive change in a country plagued by gun violence. This shift reflects the Onion’s ongoing commitment to using humor and satire to address pressing social issues and to promote a more informed and engaged citizenry.
