The satirical news outlet The Onion has successfully acquired Alex Jones' Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, with financial backing from families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims. This acquisition represents a significant victory for the families, who have sought justice against Jones for years, following his widely publicised false claims that the 2012 shooting was a hoax. As part of the sale, The Onion gained control of Infowars' website, social media accounts, Austin-based studio, trademarks, and a comprehensive video archive, according to AP News.
"The dissolution of Alex Jones' assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for," said Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was killed in the tragic 2012 shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, per ABC News. "The pain he inflicted on our families through his lies and deception went beyond any imaginable boundary, and today we have taken a decisive step towards accountability."
READ MORE: Is Alex Jones Press Secretary: White House Position Confirmed For Controversial Infowars Founder?
The Onion's Vision for Infowars
The Onion has ambitious plans to reorient Infowars as a platform dedicated to factual reporting on gun safety and responsible media practices. The satire site announced that Infowars' "exclusive launch advertiser" would be Everytown for Gun Safety, a prominent gun violence prevention organisation. In a statement, The Onion confirmed that Everytown would use Infowars' channels to promote gun violence prevention and bipartisan safety initiatives.
"Everytown will continue to raise awareness on Infowars' channels about gun violence prevention and present actual solutions to our nation's gun violence crisis, including bipartisan, common-sense measures," stated The Onion, per AP News.
Alex Jones' Legal Challenge to the Sale
Reacting to the acquisition, Alex Jones posted a video on social media on Thursday, vowing to file legal challenges to block The Onion from operating Infowars. Appearing visibly distressed, Jones broadcast live from his studio, stating, "Last broadcast now live from Infowars studios. They are in the building. Are ordering shutdown without court approval." He claimed that The Onion's acquisition was an overreach and an attack on his right to free speech.
Jones added, "This is nothing short of an attempt to silence me and dismantle Infowars' legacy. But I won't stand down." Jones' legal team announced intentions to challenge the acquisition, arguing that the sale to a satirical entity undermines Infowars' longstanding role in "alternative media."
Infowars is being shut down now! pic.twitter.com/nb4loGvL12
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) November 14, 2024
Satire Meets Reality: The Unusual Partnership of Sandy Hook Families and The Onion
The Infowars auction drew interest from both supporters and critics of Jones. According to ABC News, The Onion, known for its parodies and absurdist takes on news, outbid several interested parties, including individuals sympathetic to Jones. The support of the Sandy Hook families was instrumental, as they viewed the acquisition as a way to turn Infowars from a platform of conspiracy theories into one dedicated to promoting factual information about gun violence.
Lawyers for the Sandy Hook families in Connecticut expressed gratitude toward The Onion and its willingness to help achieve accountability. "The Onion has been a strong advocate for freedom of speech, but they've also shown an understanding of its boundaries," said Chris Mattei, an attorney representing the families. "This is about more than satire; it's about finally ending the harm Alex Jones has inflicted on these families."
The Onion itself is known for blurring the line between satire and real news. Billing itself as "the world's leading news publication, offering highly acclaimed, universally revered coverage of breaking national, international, and local news events," The Onion has historically published parodies that many people occasionally mistake for real news. The publication claims a daily readership of 4.3 trillion—underscoring its ironic tone and penchant for exaggeration.
Families' Victory and Jones' Response
The families of Sandy Hook victims, who suffered years of harassment due to Jones' baseless assertions that the shooting was staged, welcomed the sale. Following multiple defamation suits, Jones and Infowars were ordered to pay over $1 billion in damages. Testimonies from family members recounted harassment and trauma inflicted by Jones' statements, which drew threats and online abuse from conspiracy adherents.
Jones has insisted that the Infowars acquisition would not stop him from broadcasting, stating that he has already set up new studios and social media accounts for his content. He also hinted that if supporters of his views had won the auction, he would have continued his operations seamlessly. However, with The Onion at the helm, Jones' access to the original Infowars site and its audience may be limited.
The transition of Infowars from a conspiracy-driven platform to one dedicated to gun safety and factual reporting represents a monumental shift. For many, the acquisition signifies a powerful message about accountability in media. Chris Mattei summarised the significance, stating, "This sale marks an end to one era and the beginning of another, one where misinformation has consequences and the voices of victims are not drowned out."
