The Onion Buys Alex Jones' Infowars In Bankruptcy Auction: A Bittersweet Victory.
The satirical news company The Onion has won the bankruptcy auction for Alex Jones’ Infowars, a far-right conspiracy website, as per NBC News. The Onion plans to shut down Infowars and rebuild the site with humorous content from well-known internet writers and creators.
Alex Jones, the founder of Infowars, announced the sale on social media, saying he was told the website would be shut down immediately.
Via our parent company @GlobTetrahedron
CEO @BryceTetraeder: https://t.co/c3yFESwUKU pic.twitter.com/LdTXKDNLnQ— The Onion (@TheOnion) November 14, 2024
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Jones had built a massive following and fortune by spreading conspiracy theories, including the false claim that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax.
The sale is a significant victory for the families of the Sandy Hook victims who had sued Jones for defamation and emotional distress.
Jones was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion in damages but claimed he couldn’t afford it. The sale of Infowars will help satisfy some of those debts. However, Jones has posted on social media that a federal judge has halted the sale of Infowars to The Onion after discovering secret activities.
A Federal Judge Has Halted The Sale Of Infowars To The Onion After Discovering Secret Activities. pic.twitter.com/RpqmN6i8cz
— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) November 15, 2024
The Onion‘s win was backed by several Sandy Hook families who saw it as a way to hold Jones accountable for his harmful lies. “Our clients knew that true accountability meant an end to Infowars and an end to Jones’ ability to spread lies, pain, and fear,” stated Chris Mattei, an attorney for the families, quoted NBC News as saying.
The Onion‘s CEO, Ben Collins, had previously covered Jones’ conspiracy theories as a journalist. Collins has big plans for the Infowars site, including featuring humor writers and content creators, reported NBC News. The site will also partner with the anti-violence organization Everytown for Gun Safety.
Jones is furious about the sale, calling the buyers “bad guys” who want to shut him down. But The Onion is celebrating, releasing a tongue-in-cheek statement saying they admire Infowars’ commitment to “manufacturing anger and radicalizing vulnerable members of society,” quoted NBC News as saying.
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The sale includes Infowars‘ production rights, equipment, and even a Terradyne armored truck and a Winnebago motor home. Jones will likely continue to broadcast, but without his brand and website, his reach will be limited.
It was said that The Onion‘s win was a major blow to Jones’ empire, but it’s also a reminder that words have consequences. As one attorney said, “The families and The Onion have done a public service by hindering Jones’ ability to do more harm,” quoted NBC News as saying.
