In a surprising twist, satirical news outlet The Onion has won the bid to acquire Infowars, the media platform founded by controversial conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The sale, finalized as part of a court-ordered process to pay off damages related to Jones' defamatory claims about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, marks a significant turning point for the beleaguered broadcaster.
Jones, who was ordered to pay $1.5 billion to the families of the Sandy Hook victims, had used Infowars to promote false narratives, including repeatedly calling the massacre, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults, a hoax. The Onion's winning bid had backing from several of these families and is part of a broader effort to hold Jones accountable. Financial terms of the sale were not publicly disclosed.
"The Onion is proud to acquire Infowars, and we look forward to continuing its storied tradition of scaring the site's users with lies until they fork over their cold, hard cash," quipped Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion. "Or Bitcoin. We will also accept Bitcoin." Collins' comments captured the satirical outlet's spirit, hinting at a major transformation for Infowars under its new ownership.
The assets up for auction spanned everything from Infowars' production rights, studio equipment, and online dietary supplement store, to domain names, a Terradyne armored truck, and a Winnebago motorhome. The Onion, in partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety, will exclusively feature advertisements on the revamped platform, aiming to shift the focus away from Jones' incendiary content and potentially toward advocacy-driven messages.
Chris Mattei, an attorney for the Sandy Hook families, described the acquisition as a victory for accountability. "After enduring years of compounded pain from Jones' lies, this result ensures Infowars can no longer be used as a megaphone for fear and falsehoods," Mattei said. The families involved agreed to forgo a portion of their potential financial recovery to strengthen The Onion's bid and ensure Jones would lose control of the platform.
Despite facing severe financial and reputational ruin, Jones has maintained his combative stance. In a video posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Jones denounced the sale as unconstitutional and vowed to keep broadcasting on alternative channels. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm going to be here until they come in there and turn the lights off," he said defiantly.
Infowars was built into a media empire on conspiracy theories and often grotesque fabrications, with Jones profiting handsomely through a mix of fear-based rhetoric and merchandise sales. However, the defamation suits brought by the Sandy Hook families, who described the unrelenting harassment they faced due to Jones' claims, ultimately led to his downfall. The company's bankruptcy filing in 2022 paved the way for the court-mandated sale of its assets.
The Onion plans to launch new content on the Infowars website by January 2025, shifting away from its previous role as a conspiracy-driven platform. The humor website's acquisition aligns with its history of satirizing figures like Jones and undermining misinformation. Everytown for Gun Safety, which will serve as a primary advertiser, expressed hope that the new platform would promote responsible messaging around gun control and public safety.
Still, Jones' allies reportedly placed competing bids to retain control of Infowars, with at least one offer reaching the "seven figures." Though unsuccessful, Jones used his remaining broadcast platforms to rally supporters and claim that "bad guys" sought to silence him.
