Alex Jones’ Infowars has been bought by The Onion at a bankruptcy auction – with help from the families of Sandy Hook victims defamed by the conspiracy theorist.
The satirical news publication said the bid was sanctioned by the families of Sandy Hook Elementary victims who won a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit against Jones in 2022.
The auction stemmed from Jones’ personal bankruptcy case , which he filed in late 2022 after the families won lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas over his claims that the school shooting that killed 20 children and six adults was a hoax.
Infowars will be relaunched in January as a new parody of itself under The Onion umbrella, as reported by The New York Times.
Ben Collins, the chief executive of The Onion’s parent company, Global Tetrahedron, said it will mock ‘weird internet personalities’ like Jones who spread conspiracy theories.
The Onion has declined to disclose how much it paid for Infowars. The purchase includes the Infowars’ studio and a diet supplement business.
‘The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for,’ Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was killed in the 2012 shooting in Connecticut, said in a statement provided by his lawyers.
Alex Jones was broadcasting live when news emerged that The Onion had bought Infowars at auction after the families of Sandy Hook victims won a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit
In this December 14, 2012 file photo, parents leave a staging area after being reunited with their children following a shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown
Jones confirmed The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars in a social media video Thursday and said he planned to file legal challenges to stop it. An email message seeking comment was sent to Infowars.
‘Last broadcast now live from Infowars studios. They are in the building. Are ordering shutdown without court approval,’ Jones said on the social platform X.
Jones was broadcasting live from the Infowars studio Thursday in Austin, Texas, morning and appeared distraught, putting his head in his hand at his desk.
The Onion CEO Collins said on X on Thursday: ‘The Onion, with the help of the Sandy Hook families, has purchased InfoWars.
‘We’re planning on making a very stupid website. We’ve retained some Onion and Clickhole Hall of Famers to pull it off. I can’t wait to show you what we cooked up.’
Collins added: ‘You better f*****g subscribe to The Onion. This is the kind of thing we will do with your money. It allowed us to buy InfoWars. Now help us staff it.’
Before news of the Infowars purchase emerged, Collins said: ‘Stand by for the funniest news you’ve ever heard in your life.’
The Onion has a long history of parodying Jones and Infowars.
‘From day one, these families have fought against all odds to bring true accountability to Alex Jones and his corrupt business,’ said Chris Mattei, attorney for the Connecticut plaintiffs.
The conspiracy theorist shared on his show Monday that depending on who purchases the company, Infowars may have to shut down
Bill Sherlach, husband of Mary, one of the Sandy Hook School shooting victims, speaks after jurors returned a $965 million dollar judgement against Alex Jones in 2022
‘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. After surviving unimaginable loss with courage and integrity, they rejected Jones’ hollow offers for allegedly more money if they would only let him stay on the air because doing so would have put other families in harm’s way,’
‘They are heroes, and it has been an honor and privilege to be their advocate throughout this fight. By divesting Jones of Infowars’ assets, the families and the team at The Onion have done a public service and will meaningfully hinder Jones’ ability to do more harm.’
The conspiracy theorist shared on his show Monday that depending on who purchases the company, Infowars may have to shut down.
‘Infowars could be closed down Wednesday if a hostile buyer gets it at action. Infowars will continue if the good guys are able to win the auction,’ Jones said on X.
Sealed bids for the private auction were opened Wednesday. Both supporters and detractors of Jones had expressed interest in buying Infowars. The other bidders have not been disclosed.
The Onion, a satirical site that manages to persuade people to believe the absurd, bills itself as ‘the world’s leading news publication, offering highly acclaimed, universally revered coverage of breaking national, international, and local news events’ and says it has 4.3 trillion daily readers.
Jones has been saying on his show that if his detractors bought Infowars, he would move his daily broadcasts and product sales to a new studio, websites and social media accounts that he has already set up. He also said that if his supporters won the bidding, he could stay on the Infowars platforms.
Relatives of many of the 20 children and six educators killed in the shooting Jones and his company for defamation and emotional distress for repeatedly saying on his show that the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, was a hoax staged by crisis actors to spur more gun control.
The Onion has declined to disclose how much it paid for Infowars. The purchase includes the Infowars’ studio in Austin, Texas, and a diet supplement business
Parents and children of many of the victims testified that they were traumatized by Jones’ conspiracies and threats by his followers.
The lawsuits were filed in Connecticut and Texas. Lawyers for the families in the Connecticut lawsuit said they worked with The Onion to try to acquire Infowars.