The Onion Acquires Infowars in Landmark Bankruptcy Auction

The Onion Acquires Infowars in Landmark Bankruptcy Auction \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Onion has purchased Alex Jones’ Infowars in a bankruptcy auction supported by families of Sandy Hook victims, to whom Jones owes over $1 billion in defamation judgments. The satirical publication plans to relaunch Infowars in January as a parody platform, blending humor with gun safety education. Jones has vowed to fight the sale in court, claiming it infringes on free speech.

Infowars Auctioned to The Onion: Quick Looks

• Winning Bid: Satirical news outlet The Onion acquired Infowars, including its trademarks, studio, and social media accounts.
• Sandy Hook Families’ Role: Families of shooting victims supported The Onion’s bid to hold Alex Jones accountable.
• Planned Relaunch: Infowars will return as a parody site in January, featuring satire and educational content.
• Auction Controversy: Jones and his lawyers allege irregularities in the bidding process and plan to challenge the sale.
• Legacy Shift: The Onion seeks to repurpose Infowars to counter misinformation and promote gun safety.

Deep Look

The satirical news website The Onion has won the rights to Alex Jones’ Infowars platform in a bankruptcy auction designed to settle defamation judgments owed to families of Sandy Hook shooting victims. The surprising acquisition brings a controversial chapter in conspiracy media to a close and signals the beginning of a radically different approach to Infowars.

Supported by families who have long sought accountability from Jones, The Onion plans to relaunch the platform in January as a satirical and educational space, transforming a vehicle for misinformation into one of parody and public awareness.

The Auction and Controversy

The private bankruptcy auction, overseen by a trustee, involved sealed bids rather than open competition. The Onion’s winning bid encompasses Infowars’ website, trademarks, social media accounts, video archives, and its Austin, Texas studio. The exact sale price has not been disclosed.

Jones and his legal team allege that the auction process was unfairly altered days before bids were opened, eliminating the expected competitive bidding round. They argue that this change gave an advantage to The Onion and others submitting sealed offers. Judge Christopher Lopez has expressed concerns and scheduled a hearing to examine the allegations.

If the sale to The Onion falls through, First United American Companies—an entity affiliated with Jones’ product-selling ventures—has been named the backup bidder.

A Symbolic Victory for Sandy Hook Families

The families of Sandy Hook victims played a crucial role in The Onion’s acquisition, joining forces with the satirical outlet to ensure that Infowars would no longer operate as a platform for harmful conspiracy theories.

Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was killed in the 2012 shooting, described the sale as a long-awaited form of justice. “The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for,” Parker said in a statement through his lawyers.

Attorney Christopher Mattei, representing the families, emphasized the importance of ending Jones’ ability to spread harmful lies at scale. “True accountability meant an end to Infowars and an end to Jones’ ability to spread lies, pain, and fear,” Mattei said.

The Onion’s Satirical Plans for Infowars

Under its new ownership, Infowars will be transformed into a satirical platform aimed at parodying conspiracy theories and right-wing figures. Additionally, The Onion plans to collaborate with Everytown for Gun Safety, an advocacy group, to integrate educational resources on gun violence prevention.

John Feinblatt, president of Everytown, called the partnership “poetic justice,” saying, “Alex Jones and Infowars caused immense harm to Sandy Hook families. Now, Everytown and The Onion will turn this platform into one devoted to promoting gun safety and awareness.”

Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion’s parent company Global Tetrahedron, explained the motivation behind the purchase. “We thought it would be a very funny joke if we bought this thing, probably one of the better jokes we’ve ever told,” Collins said in a video interview. “By the end of the day, it was us or Alex Jones. Either Infowars could continue spreading lies or we could turn it into a dumb, stupid website. We chose the latter.”

Jones’ Reaction and Next Steps

Hours after the auction results were announced, the Infowars website went offline. Jones, broadcasting from a new undisclosed studio, angrily denounced the sale as “an attack on free speech” and vowed to challenge it in court.

Despite losing the Infowars platform, Jones retained his personal X (formerly Twitter) account, which has over 3 million followers. However, the bankruptcy trustee has requested that the court consider liquidating Jones’ personal assets, including his social media accounts, to satisfy the defamation judgments.

Infowars’ Legacy and Shift in Purpose

Infowars, once a powerful hub for conspiracy theories, has faced significant legal and financial consequences for its role in spreading falsehoods about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which left 20 children and six educators dead.

Jones repeatedly claimed that the tragedy was a hoax staged by “crisis actors” to push for gun control, leading to years of harassment and threats against victims’ families by his followers. During the defamation trials, Jones admitted that the shooting was “100% real,” but the damage caused by his rhetoric was already profound.

The Onion’s takeover of Infowars represents a symbolic end to its toxic influence. By leveraging satire and advocacy, the relaunch aims to offer a sharp contrast to the platform’s former purpose, redirecting its reach toward public education and humor.

The Role of Satire in Addressing Misinformation

Founded in the 1980s, The Onion has a long history of skewering politics, culture, and societal issues with biting satire. Its coverage often targets figures like Alex Jones, with headlines such as “Man Laments Lack of Appreciation for His Sincere Effort to Spread Misinformation.”

One of The Onion’s recurring pieces, “No Way to Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens,” published after every mass shooting in the U.S., underscores the grim reality of gun violence in America.

Future of the Infowars Platform

With The Onion at the helm, the revamped Infowars is expected to launch in January. While details about its content remain sparse, the platform will combine satirical commentary with factual resources about gun violence prevention.

By reshaping Infowars into a tool for humor and education, The Onion and its partners aim to dismantle the legacy of conspiracy-driven harm associated with the brand, offering a fresh perspective rooted in accountability and advocacy.

More on Entertainment