Satirical publication The Onion has recently made headlines by acquiring Infowars, the controversial platform run by far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, promising to transform the site from its notorious past to something hilariously different. This unexpected twist follows Alex Jones’ filing for personal bankruptcy and the overwhelming legal pressures he has faced due to repeated defamation lawsuits related to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Infowars, which Jones founded, gained infamy as it peddled conspiracy theories and misinformation about various topics, most notoriously alleging the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre was faked. His claims, which included accusations of the parents being “crisis actors” alongside the government staging the incident, inflicted considerable emotional trauma on the families of the victims.
After years of legal battles, families of Sandy Hook victims successfully sued Jones and his company for defamation and emotional distress. Courts awarded the families almost $1.5 billion, which played a significant role in Jones filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This led to the liquidation of Infowars’ assets, including its name, social media accounts, and even physical properties like its broadcasting studio.
On November 14, 2024, The Onion confirmed its acquisition, stating it aims to rebrand Infowars as “a very funny, very stupid website.” The sale reportedly has the backing of Sandy Hook victim families, signaling a step toward potentially closing the chapter on the harm Jones’ claims caused. Along with The Onion, the firearms safety advocacy organization Everytown for Gun Safety will enter arrangements to advertise on the new site, which plans to use humor to counteract misinformation.
Ben Collins, the CEO of The Onion, described the acquisition as not just operational but celebratory, asserting, “I think it’d be really funny if The Onion bought it. And then we really thought about it,” indicating excitement about the project’s transformation potential. He disclosed plans to wipe the slate clean on Infowars, with aspirations of restructuring it as “the funniest website you know.”
The plan involves re-establishing Infowars, fitting it within The Onion’s comedic repertoire, and mocking the very style of misinformation Jones used to proliferate. Collins explained, "We want to create a world where people engage with libertarian figures and conspiracy theorists through humor." He even joked about the unexpected products left over from Jones’ dubious supplement business, noting, "There are pills in boxes somewhere, and we’re trying to figure out what to do with them."
Collins emphasized the importance of using humor to combat what he identified as irrational thought fueled by misinformation, asserting, “We want to give people a place to at least laugh at it.” This idea finds resonance with John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, who acknowledged The Onion’s long-standing commitment to drawing attention to issues like gun violence. “It’s poetic justice rewriting a dangerous narrative through comedy,” he remarked.
While the legal entanglements surrounding the bankruptcy proceedings continue to complicate matters, they have not deterred The Onion from outlining its future vision for Infowars. A Texas bankruptcy court is reviewing the auction process now, as Judge Christopher Lopez has raised concerns about the legitimacy of how the sale was conducted. The aftermath of the auction revealed an intriguing dispute, where the only other bidder, First United American Companies—supporters of Jones—questioned the auction’s fairness.
Reports indicate the auction’s trustee held The Onion’s bid as the most advantageous, even though it reportedly was lower than the competing bid of $3.5 million from the aforementioned company. Jones himself has vowed to challenge the sale publicly, describing it as manipulated by the “deep state” seeking his downfall.
Despite some legal hurdles, promises of satire and unique takes on controversial topics signal The Onion’s intent to step up as both creators and critics of the media narrative surrounding conspiracy theories. The Onion aims to reimagine Infowars as more than just its existing framework, with hopes of contrasting sensationalism with comedic interpretations, perhaps reclaiming the space as one for rational dialogue laced with humor.
The Onion's ambition is not merely to capitalize on Jones’ connotations of sensationalized conspiracy theories but instead to offer fresh commentary on the absurdity of alt-media landscapes and misinformation culture today. The acquisition raises the question: Can laughter really become the antidote to decades-long narratives grounded in fear and divisiveness?
With the launch of this new platform set for January 2025, many will eagerly unit for what roles satire and humor will assume as The Onion steeps its continued legacy against the backdrop of cybersecurity, truth, and accountability. The questions remain, will audiences buy this transformation? And more critically, will they be able to navigate the fine line between humor and recklessness as they are invited to engage with the reshaped platform?
