The Onion Acquires Infowars from Alex Jones at Auction

The Onion's acquisition of Infowars is seen as a blow to the controversial media outlet, and a significant moment for the families affected by Alex Jones's false narratives regarding the Sandy Hook tragedy.

The Onion has officially acquired Infowars, the provocative media organization founded by the controversial right-wing figure Alex Jones, through a court-ordered auction. The purchase amount remains undisclosed, but it comes with the backing of families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, who recently won a staggering $1.5 billion defamation suit against Jones. This lawsuit stemmed from Jones's repeated dissemination of false information related to the tragedy.

The auction was mandated by a Texas judge in September following Jones's legal battles, which drew significant interest from various parties. Despite attempts to rally support from both allies and adversaries, Jones, in a heartfelt video, described the acquisition as an infringement on "free speech" and vowed to persist with his broadcasts on alternate platforms.

Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion’s parent company, stated they plan to revamp the Infowars brand to infuse it with humor while distancing it from its controversial past. “We aim to transform it into a hilariously absurd site,” Collins noted, while the Onion's website humorously remarked on Infowars's history of generating tension and division.

Support from the families of shooting victims remains a poignant part of this transition. Chris Mattei, a lawyer representing the families, emphasized that removing Infowars from Jones’s control would serve a critical public interest. Robbie Parker, father of a Sandy Hook victim, echoed this sentiment, saying that accountability is vital in ensuring that victimized families receive justice.

Over the years, Infowars developed a dubious reputation, gaining traction among conspiracy theorists, especially with Jones's unfounded assertions that the Sandy Hook shooting was a fabrication, labeling it a "hoax" that involved actors. Jones, who has since acknowledged the reality of the tragedy, faced relentless backlash as his comments incited harassment against grieving families.

After declaring bankruptcy in 2022 when faced with mounting lawsuits, Jones's financial troubles culminated in a court-ordered liquidation of assets valued at approximately $8.6 million, encompassing luxury properties, vehicles, and firearms.

With the sale of Infowars, hopes are pinned on a new chapter that could mitigate the harm caused to victims' families and overhaul the controversial narrative associated with the media outlet.