On November 14, 2024, The Onion, well-known for its satirical take on current events, made headlines for acquiring InfoWars, the controversial platform previously owned by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. This sale is emblematic of the broader repercussions of Jones's libel suits, particularly stemming from his unfounded claim about the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy being staged. The auction concluded with the backing of Sandy Hook victims' families, marking what many are calling "cosmic justice."
For over twenty years, InfoWars has been at the center of promoting various conspiracy theories, with Jones at the helm, making sensational claims about government cover-ups, false flags, and hoaxes. The culmination of his actions reached legal boiling points when courts ordered him to pay nearly $1.5 billion to families affected by the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting for defamation and emotional distress, which arose from his persistent claims about the incident being fabricated.
The Onion's CEO, Ben Collins, expressed pride in the acquisition during the announcement, framing it not just as ownership but as inheriting the responsibility to continue delivering satirical content with potential educational twists. The Onion has plans to revamp InfoWars, continuing to poke fun at the fears and paranoia it previously perpetuated. Collins highlighted the absurdity of Jones's past claims, noting, “We look forward to continuing its storied tradition of scaring the site’s users with lies until they fork over their cold, hard cash,” adding humorously, “Or Bitcoin. We will also accept Bitcoin.”
This acquisition did not happen overnight. The possibility of such a sale emerged earlier this year when bankruptcy proceedings began for Jones. These proceedings were necessary due to the overwhelming financial liabilities he faced from court rulings against him. The families of Sandy Hook victims, who have relentlessly sought accountability from Jones, played significant roles during the bidding process, ensuring the funds from the sale would benefit their cause. Robbie Parker, whose daughter was one of the victims, commented on the proceedings, stating, “The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for.”
The backdrop to this dramatic acquisition reflects the wider conversation around misinformation and its consequences, particularly the devastating real-world impacts those lies can have on victims and their families. The Sandy Hook families have become remarkable advocates against disinformation, facing immense adversity and emotional distress as they fought against Jones's damaging rhetoric. Many of them testified about the distress and trauma resulting from Jones's claims, which led to threats and harassment from his followers.
While the sale has elicited relief among the families and supporters of gun control advocacy, including Everytown for Gun Safety—who has committed to being the exclusive advertising partner for the rebranded InfoWars—it remains to be seen how The Onion intends to navigate this heavy past. According to Everytown’s president, John Feinblatt, “It’s fitting to repurpose what was once used to profit off of tragedy as now being a tool for education.”
The auction itself was contentious, with varying levels of interest from not just supporters of Jones but also his critics, illustrating the polarized nature of media consumption today. Speculation abounds as to exactly how much The Onion paid for InfoWars, with details surrounding the auction process remaining largely under wraps. Up for bidding were everything under InfoWars's banner—the studio equipment, financial accounts, social media platforms, and even branded merchandise.
Despite the legal setback and public ridicule, Jones remains defiant. Right before the sale, he delivered passionate admonitions against what he terms as attacks on free speech, pledging to challenge the auction results through legal channels. He described the acquisition as, “the tyranny of the new world order—desperate to silence the American people.” His bombastic style seems to persist, with continual proclamations of fighting against so-called censorship.
The Onion, on the other hand, arrives with its own legacy of humor, satire, and social critique. It leverages absurdity to reflect on real-world issues, often crafting narratives so outrageous they highlight the absurdity found within modern politics and media culture. The merger of The Onion's sharp wit with the remnants of InfoWars opens up intriguing possibilities for how misinformation can be repurposed through comedy, potentially creating space for constructive dialogue about faith and accountability.
Concluding this chapter for InfoWars returns to the important reflection of responsibilities media platforms hold. The shifting ownership symbolizes not only financial repercussions but also the resilience of truth against deception. The fight against misinformation, especially concerning sensitive topics like the Sandy Hook shooting, is far from over. Yet, through humor and satire, The Onion aims to facilitate conversations about the absurdity of past misdeeds and how these narratives have affected countless lives.
