CHICAGO, USA – In an unexpected twist, The Onion, the well-known satirical news outlet, has acquired Alex Jones’ media empire, including his flagship website InfoWars, following a bankruptcy auction.
A source familiar with the sale confirmed that The Onion, famous for its parodies of conspiracy theories and political figures, plans to close InfoWars and relaunch the site with content from top internet humour writers and creators.
Jones, who announced the sale on the social platform X, expressed his displeasure, stating, “The Connecticut democrats with The Onion newspaper bought us.”
He claimed that authorities were moving to shut down his operations even without a court order.
The auction, part of Jones’ bankruptcy proceedings, was held to settle his estate’s substantial debts to creditors, notably the families affected by the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Jones had been ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion in damages after defamation suits found him responsible for spreading false claims that the tragic school shooting was a hoax.
The Onion’s acquisition of InfoWars marks a significant shift for the site, which had built a large following by promoting controversial, often debunked, conspiracy theories.
Chris Mattei, an attorney for the Sandy Hook families, commented on the sale, saying, “Our clients knew that true accountability meant an end to InfoWars and an end to Jones’ ability to spread lies, pain, and fear at scale.”
He added that the families and The Onion “have done a public service” in acquiring InfoWars’ assets.
Everytown for Gun Safety, an anti-violence advocacy group, has signed on as the exclusive advertiser in The Onion’s forthcoming venture, hoping to engage new audiences on issues of gun control and accountability.
John Feinblatt, president of Everytown, expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating his hope to “reach new audiences ready to hold the gun industry accountable for contributing to our nation’s gun violence epidemic.”
The amount paid for Jones’ parent company, Free Speech Systems, remains undisclosed, though proceeds from the sale will contribute to Jones’ settlements.
This development represents a significant turn in the long legal journey following the Sandy Hook defamation cases and underscores the financial and reputational consequences Jones has faced.
The Onion’s next steps for InfoWars remain anticipated, with many in the public eye watching to see how the satirical site reshapes the infamous platform.
