The Onion, a well-known satirical news site, has purchased Alex Jones’ Infowars in an auction. Jones, infamous for spreading conspiracy theories, was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion for defaming the families of Sandy Hook victims. While Jones had hoped a supporter would buy Infowars to continue its operations, The Onion has instead taken control, pledging a comedic and critical transformation of the site.
The purchase includes Infowars’ trademarks, social media accounts, video archives, and its Austin studio. The Onion, partnering with Everytown for Gun Safety, plans to use the platform to promote educational content, with Everytown securing a multi-year advertising agreement to advocate against gun violence. John Feinblatt, president of Everytown, remarked on the irony of turning a former disinformation hub into a tool for awareness.
Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion’s parent company, stated that the new Infowars will parody extremist internet figures like Jones, aiming to satirize the “no-guardrails” environment of online misinformation. The relaunch is scheduled for January, promising a humorous approach to tackling the often dangerous rhetoric that defined Infowars under Jones’ leadership.