The satirical publication The Onion has made quite the headline recently by purchasing Alex Jones's notorious platform, Infowars, at auction. This dramatic acquisition came after Jones was held liable for almost $1.5 billion due to his false claims surrounding the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which has been the source of immense controversy and legal battles. The auction occurred as part of efforts by the families affected by the Sandy Hook tragedy to claim damages pertaining to the emotional distress caused by Jones's unfounded assertions.
On Thursday, Ben Collins, the CEO of The Onion, confirmed the purchase through social media, proudly declaring, "We won the auction, and you're not going to believe this—the previous Infowars folks aren't taking it well." This acquisition is particularly noteworthy considering The Onion is fundamentally known for its satirical take on current events, which poses the question of how they plan to handle the serious legacy of Infowars.
The as-of-yet unnamed revival of Infowars is set to be branded as “the dumbest website on the internet,” according to Collins. Using humor as both shield and sword, he stated, "The long and short of it: We can’t wait to relaunch it." Collins did not shy away from joking about the bid process, referencing the bizarre claims made by Jones, who previously alleged the auction was manipulated against him.
For years, Jones’ Infowars has been infamous for disseminated conspiracy theories, including discredited claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic and various attacks on the veracity of mainstream media. This auction, overseen by the trustee managing Jones's bankruptcy, sought to liquidate assets to settle the hefty damages awarded to the Sandy Hook families. With the future of Infowars now uncertain under new ownership, many wonder how The Onion will navigate the waters of such charged history.
The families of Sandy Hook victims embarked on this legal battle against Jones after spending countless years combating his harmful rhetoric. After Jones’s repeated claims of the tragedy being staged as part of gun control measures, backlash and legal action surged, leading to many lawsuits across the country. This culminated with the jury’s decision to hold him accountable for the pain inflicted upon the families.
The irony of The Onion taking over such a platform does not seem lost on the public or media commentators. Known for its humorous satire mocking various issues and figures, the organization’s approach could result in surreal content coming from what originally was a source of misinformation. Collins’ commentary hints at potential for satirical spins on the absurdities propagated by Jones over the years.
The acquisition has already sparked debates online, with many taking both sides on whether The Onion should proceed to parody Jones's past works or maintain some ethical boundary, recognizing the serious ramifications of the damage his content caused.
Adding layers to this situation, Jones has been vocal about his perceived injustices throughout his bankruptcy proceedings, often claiming foul play. He has suggested, without credible evidence, his auction process was manipulated and his site unreasonably undervalued, declaring it to be shifted to “secret” status days prior to the event.
Despite these claims, the auction went forward with The Onion being adjudged the winning bidder. With complications surrounding Jones's financial status and Infowars’s operational history, it's unclear how the new ownership will engage with the previous content and the legacy of misinformation it harbors.
Overall, the future of Infowars is set against the backdrop of serious socio-political questions about misinformation and the role such platforms play within the media. With The Onion now at the helm, audiences are left to wonder whether comedy can perhaps lead to some reflections about serious social injustices, or if the same pattern of sensationalism will continue, albeit with various comedic twists.
