In a surprising and bold move, satirical news outlet The Onion has acquired the controversial right-wing media platform Infowars, a website founded by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The purchase took place through a court-ordered bankruptcy auction, and the deal is expected to turn the once-inflammatory platform into a parody of itself. For The Onion, this acquisition represents not only an opportunity for dark comedy but also a form of justice for those who suffered from Jones’s harmful rhetoric.
Infowars and Alex Jones: A History of Controversy
Alex Jones has spent years at the center of numerous controversies, most notably for his role in spreading false conspiracy theories about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Jones repeatedly claimed that the massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 20 children and six educators, was a staged event orchestrated by the government to push for stricter gun laws. These baseless claims led to widespread harassment of the victims’ families, who were forced to endure death threats from Jones’s followers.
In 2022, Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems, were ordered to pay over $1.4 billion in damages to the families of the Sandy Hook victims for defamation and emotional distress. In an attempt to shield his assets from the massive judgment, Jones filed for bankruptcy protection. This set the stage for the auction that would ultimately see Infowars sold off to the highest bidder.
The Onion’s Winning Bid: A Plan for Satirical Revenge
The Onion, a satirical news site known for its absurd headlines and biting commentary on politics and culture, was the winning bidder in this high-profile auction. With the help of the Sandy Hook families, who supported the bid, The Onion acquired not just the Infowars website but also its intellectual property, including trademarks, social media accounts, production equipment, and its Austin-based studio.
Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion’s parent company Global Tetrahedron, confirmed the acquisition and shared the satirical publication’s intentions. In a post on Bluesky, Collins explained that the goal was to transform Infowars into “a very funny, very stupid website.” He added that well-known humor writers and creators from The Onion and Clickhole, another satirical site, would help execute this vision.
The acquisition wasn’t just about the laughs, though. It also served a broader purpose. Collins acknowledged that the families of Sandy Hook victims had been directly involved in making the bid a reality, and he expressed a deep sense of responsibility in helping to hold Jones accountable. “This is the funniest thing that has ever happened,” Collins said, emphasizing that this move also represented a form of justice for those affected by Jones’s lies.
This is wild @JackPosobiec they are shutting down Alex now. The Onion has purchased Infowars at auction pic.twitter.com/y0UR5kWKO5
— Eric Pistey (@shawnpisteySC) November 14, 2024A New Era for Infowars: Satire Meets Seriousness
When The Onion relaunches Infowars in January 2024, it plans to transform the platform into a parody of the very conspiracy theories that Jones has long propagated. Drawing inspiration from sites like Clickhole, which lampooned viral internet trends, the new version of Infowars will mock the world of weird personalities who push misinformation and pseudoscience.
While the site’s content will lean heavily into satire, The Onion also plans to partner with Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit focused on reducing gun violence in America. Everytown’s involvement will likely shape Infowars into a platform that not only mocks Jones’s conspiracies but also promotes factual, data-driven solutions to America’s gun violence epidemic. The families of the Sandy Hook victims, who have worked tirelessly to hold Jones accountable for his lies, support the plan to turn Infowars into a site that raises awareness about gun violence.
Chris Mattei, a lawyer for the Sandy Hook families, spoke about the significance of the sale: “The dissolution of Alex Jones’s assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for.” Mattei praised the sale as a step toward holding Jones and his corrupt business accountable for the harm they caused.
Jones’s Response: Defiance and Deflection
Upon learning of the auction’s outcome, Alex Jones immediately went live on social media to express his outrage. On X (formerly Twitter), Jones ranted about the sale of Infowars to The Onion and vowed to continue broadcasting his show, “The Alex Jones Show,” from his new studio. He suggested that if his supporters had won the auction, he could have stayed on the Infowars platforms, but now he plans to set up new websites and social media accounts to continue his broadcasts.
Despite his defiant rhetoric, Jones’s future in media looks uncertain. The acquisition of Infowars by The Onion marks the beginning of a significant shift in his ability to reach a wide audience, especially with the involvement of Everytown for Gun Safety and the site’s new editorial direction. For many, the sale of Infowars represents a small but meaningful victory in the ongoing battle against misinformation.
A Symbol of Accountability and Humor
At its core, the The Onion’s purchase of Infowars is a form of both satire and accountability. The deal not only removes a dangerous platform for conspiracy theories but also turns it into a vessel for exposing and mocking the very people who profit from spreading lies. In addition, it offers the families of Sandy Hook victims a form of closure, helping to diminish Jones’s influence and take away the platform he used to harm them and countless others.
In the months to come, we can expect to see The Onion‘s satirical take on Infowars unfold. This unusual move underscores how humor, when used strategically, can help dismantle harmful narratives and hold those in power accountable. It’s a rare instance of justice being served with a side of dark humor, and in the world of satire, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting outcome.
As Collins said, “This is going to be our answer to this no-guardrails world where there are no gatekeepers and everything’s kind of insane.” In this chaotic landscape, The Onion’s reimagining of Infowars may be just the absurd antidote we need.
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