New York, NY — In a surprising twist, satirical news outlet The Onion has officially acquired Alex Jones’ media empire, Infowars, in a court-ordered auction. This acquisition, announced by families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, represents a significant move in their long-standing efforts to hold Jones accountable for years of harmful misinformation.
Robbie Parker, whose daughter was tragically killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, expressed a sense of justice with the outcome. “The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for,” Parker stated, underscoring the families’ years-long battle to bring Jones and his brand to account for their pain.
The Onion, backed by Twilio co-founder Jeff Lawson and led by CEO Ben Collins, acquired Infowars’ website, product inventory, social media accounts, and intellectual property. The terms of the deal remain undisclosed, but the Sandy Hook families agreed to forgo a portion of the damages Jones owes them, making The Onion’s successful bid possible. Collins confirmed that Infowars is set to be rebooted under The Onion’s ownership, with plans for a January 2025 relaunch.
Chris Mattei, attorney for the Sandy Hook families, emphasized the broader significance of the acquisition. “From day one, these families have fought against all odds to bring true accountability to Alex Jones and his corrupt business,” Mattei said in a statement. “Our clients knew that true accountability meant an end to Infowars and an end to Jones’ ability to spread lies, pain, and fear at scale.”
The new Infowars platform will take a markedly different approach, with The Onion securing a multi-year partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety, a prominent organization dedicated to gun violence prevention, as one of the first advertisers. This shift is part of a larger strategy to steer Infowars in a new direction, away from divisive conspiracy theories and toward commentary with a satirical, but informative, tone.
Jones, who founded Infowars in the late 1990s, gained notoriety for promoting conspiracy theories and inflammatory rhetoric, including denialist claims about the Sandy Hook shooting. In 2023, a court ordered him to pay over $1.5 billion in damages to the Sandy Hook families after finding that he had defamed the victims’ families through falsehoods spread on his platform. Jones had hinted at the possibility of an ally stepping in to purchase Infowars to maintain its legacy, but those efforts proved unsuccessful.
In response to the news, Jones condemned the sale, calling it part of a politically motivated vendetta. Owen Shroyer, a popular Infowars personality, remarked on the acquisition’s ironic twist, saying, “It’s almost like a satire of a satire. It’s like a joke of a joke.”
Though Jones no longer controls Infowars, he has signaled his intention to continue broadcasting independently, leaving open the question of his future role in the media landscape. Meanwhile, The Onion aims to bring its signature satirical edge to Infowars, promising “hard-hitting reporting” that could redefine the brand’s approach to current events.
Sources:
- Parker, R., Sandy Hook Family Representative. Public statement, November 16, 2024.
- Mattei, C., Sandy Hook Families’ Attorney. Press release, November 16, 2024.
- Collins, B., CEO of The Onion. Interview with Status News, November 16, 2024.
- Shroyer, O., Infowars Personality. Infowars broadcast, November 16, 2024.
