In a surprising twist within the media landscape, the satirical news outlet, The Onion, has officially acquired Infowars, the controversial platform led by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, following a court-ordered auction. The precise financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed; however, it is notable that the acquisition was made possible with the support of families impacted by the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. These families had previously won a monumental $1.5 billion defamation lawsuit against Jones for propagating false narratives about the events surrounding the massacre.
The court-ordered auction took place in Texas, following a directive from a judge issued in September 2023. Both supporters and adversaries of Jones expressed interest in becoming the new owners of Infowars, illustrating the contentious environment surrounding the infamous platform. Established by Jones in 1999, Infowars gained prominence over the years, fusing opinion, speculation, and sometimes outright falsehoods to captivate a large audience. Subsequently, Jones has vowed to persist with his media endeavors via another outlet, despite losing ownership of Infowars.
Reacting to the acquisition, Jones released a video where he labeled the takeover a “total attack on free speech,” reflecting his characteristic dramatic style. He expressed uncertainty about his future, stating, “I don’t know what’s going to happen but I’m going to be here until they come in and turn the lights off.” In his typically conspiratorial tone, he portrayed the situation as an effort by the “New World Order” to suppress the viewpoints of American citizens. Meanwhile, The Onion has signaled plans to revamp the Infowars website by integrating content from various humor writers and online creators, aspiring to transform it into a “very funny, very stupid website.”
Ben Collins, the CEO of The Onion’s parent company, articulated the intent behind the purchase, declaring, “We are planning on making it a very funny, very stupid website.” In line with this new direction, The Onion also released a tongue-in-cheek article poking fun at Infowars’ historical commitment to inflaming societal anger and radicalizing its audience, humorously claiming that Jones had to sell his platform at a cost that was “less than one trillion dollars.”
Support from families of the Sandy Hook victims related to this acquisition is evident, according to Chris Mattei, a lawyer representing some of the impacted families. Mattei indicated that divesting Jones of Infowars would serve the public good while significantly diminishing his capacity to inflict further harm. Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was one of the young victims in the Sandy Hook tragedy, echoed this sentiment by emphasizing that accountability is paramount, stating, “the dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for.”
Beyond these developments, Everytown for Gun Safety, a non-profit organization advocating for gun control, has confirmed its commitment to advertising on the newly transformed site, indicating an alignment with the platform’s fresh direction.
Historically, Jones cultivated his persona as a fringe media figure in the 1990s while operating out of Austin, Texas, gradually building a vast following marked by a blend of sensationalist claims and unverified allegations. The catastrophic events surrounding the Sandy Hook shooting in December 2012, which resulted in the tragic loss of twenty children and six staff members, significantly impacted Jones’ financial status, culminating in defamation judgments delivered against him and his organization.
Despite some attempts at clarification from Jones regarding his earlier statements about the Sandy Hook massacre, the damage inflicted on the victims’ families through harassment and intimidation from conspiracy theorists has had lasting consequences. Following Jones’ bankruptcy declaration in 2022 amidst ongoing legal battles related to the case, a court ruling in June 2024 ordered the liquidation of his assets, which included properties, vehicles, and other personal belongings estimated at around $8.6 million.
In the aftermath, the future of Infowars under The Onion’s ownership opens a new chapter in the media discourse, balancing satire and accountability in the face of complex social issues. As The Onion aims to reshape the platform, it also highlights questions regarding the boundaries of free speech and the responsibilities of media platforms in the digital age.
