In a surprising turn of events, The Onion, a satirical news outlet, has won the bid to purchase Alex Jones' Infowars during a bankruptcy auction. The sale, backed by families of Sandy Hook victims, includes Infowars' assets like its studio and equipment. Proceeds are aimed at settling Jones' $1.5 billion debt to these families, following defamation suits over his false Sandy Hook conspiracy theories. The Onion plans to transform Infowars into a parody site, while Jones vows to continue broadcasting from alternative platforms.
The controversial Infowars platform, once a hub for far-right conspiracy theories, has been purchased by the satirical news organization, The Onion, in a bankruptcy auction. This acquisition marks a significant shift in the platform's future, turning a site known for spreading misinformation into a potential tool for satire and education. The sale was heavily influenced by the legal actions of families affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, who have been awarded significant damages from Infowars' founder, Alex Jones, for his harmful conspiracy theories about the tragedy.
The auction of Infowars comes after a series of legal defeats for Alex Jones, who was sued by the families of Sandy Hook victims. These families were awarded $1.5 billion in damages, leading to Jones' bankruptcy and the subsequent auction of his assets, including Infowars. The Onion's winning bid was supported by the plaintiffs, who agreed to forgo some of their awarded damages to facilitate the purchase, aiming to prevent Infowars from continuing as a platform for misinformation. The sale still requires approval from a bankruptcy judge amid challenges and allegations of a non-transparent auction process.
The Onion intends to relaunch Infowars in January 2025 as a parody site that mocks internet personalities like Alex Jones. This new version of Infowars will collaborate with Everytown for Gun Safety, focusing on educating and engaging audiences through humor. The Onion's CEO, Ben Collins, emphasized the importance of transforming a platform previously used for harm into one that can contribute positively to societal issues like gun control. This strategic shift aims to neutralize the harmful impacts of Infowars by using satire to challenge misinformation.
Despite losing control of Infowars, Alex Jones has not ceased broadcasting. He continues to operate from a backup studio and has shifted his sales of nutritional supplements and merchandise to other websites. Jones remains defiant, vowing to fight the auction's outcome and maintain his presence in the media landscape. His ongoing legal battles and the potential for future earnings to be targeted by the Sandy Hook families indicate that the controversy surrounding Jones is far from over.
The acquisition of Infowars by The Onion marks a pivotal moment in the battle against misinformation. Transforming a platform known for spreading harmful conspiracy theories into a satirical site represents a unique approach to addressing the spread of false information. While Alex Jones plans to continue his activities elsewhere, the shift in ownership of Infowars to The Onion could potentially lead to a significant reduction in the spread of harmful content, aligning with broader efforts to promote truth and accountability in media.
"The dissolution of Alex Jones' assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for." - Robbie Parker
"Money was never their goal, and if taking less money meant that they would be able to shut down Infowars and Alex Jones and protect other families from suffering that they suffered, they were more than willing to do that." - Chris Mattei