The Onion Acquires Infowars, Plans to Relaunch as Satirical Platform

In a surprising move, satirical news outlet The Onion has purchased Alex Jones' Infowars after winning a bankruptcy auction. The deal, approved by families of the Sandy Hook victims, marks a unique twist in the ongoing saga surrounding Jones and his conspiracy-fueled platform. The Onion plans to transform Infowars into a parody of itself, mocking the type of misinformation and bizarre health supplements that made the site infamous. This acquisition comes after Jones lost a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit filed by the Sandy Hook families.

The Onion’s CEO, Ben Collins, expressed the publication’s intent to relaunch Infowars in early 2024, with a focus on satirical content that ridicules conspiracy theorists like Jones. Collins stated that this move was a chance to use humor as a weapon against harmful misinformation. The revamped site will feature sponsored content from gun safety advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, aligning with both organizations’ missions to raise awareness of gun violence in America.

The sale includes Infowars’ studio equipment, domain names, customer lists, and nutritional supplement business, which has been a significant source of revenue for Jones. Although Jones will no longer own the site, he vowed to continue broadcasting his show on other platforms, alleging that the auction process was unfairly rigged against him. He remains defiant, insisting that the attacks on him have only made him more popular.

While Jones continues to appeal the defamation rulings and attempts to shield his assets, the Sandy Hook families now have a "hunting license" to pursue future earnings from Jones, regardless of where he continues his work. This sale marks a significant victory in their long battle for accountability and ensures that Infowars, as it existed under Jones, will no longer operate in the same capacity.

The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars reflects a new era for the platform, one where satire, rather than harmful conspiracy theories, takes center stage. Fans of The Onion can expect a clever reimagining of the site, providing a humorous yet impactful commentary on the dangers of unchecked misinformation in the digital age.