In a surprising twist, the satirical news outlet The Onion has acquired Alex Jones’ Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, with financial backing from families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims.
Jones, who owes more than $1 billion in defamation judgments after claiming the 2012 tragedy was a hoax, has long been a central figure in conspiracy media.
Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was one of the 20 children killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, expressed relief and satisfaction following the acquisition.
“The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the end of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for,” Parker said in a statement through his attorneys.
The acquisition includes Infowars’ website, social media platforms, studio in Austin, Texas, trademarks, and video archives.
Although the final sale price has not been disclosed, The Onion has announced that Everytown for Gun Safety, a prominent gun violence prevention organization, will serve as Infowars’ new “exclusive launch advertiser.”
In a statement, The Onion emphasized Everytown’s role in raising awareness about gun violence and promoting bipartisan safety measures on Infowars’ channels.
“Everytown will continue to highlight the urgent need for gun violence prevention and present real solutions to our nation’s gun violence crisis,” The Onion said.
Following the acquisition, Jones confirmed the sale in a social media post, where he appeared dismayed and announced his intention to file legal challenges to contest the outcome.
“Last broadcast now live from Infowars studios,” he stated, adding, “They are in the building. Are ordering shutdown without court approval.”
Jones’ final live broadcast from Infowars’ Austin studio captured him visibly distressed, with his head in his hands at one point.
The private auction, which involved sealed bids, took place earlier in the week, and both Jones’ supporters and opponents were reportedly among the interested parties.
However, The Onion ultimately won the bid, and no other bidders were disclosed.
The satirical publication, which describes itself as “the world’s leading news organization, offering universally revered coverage,” has gained a reputation for its humor and wit, often blurring the line between satire and reality.
With 4.3 trillion “daily readers” as it jokingly claims, The Onion has now taken a major step into real-world influence by acquiring Infowars.
For Jones, the loss of Infowars marks a significant setback. He previously suggested that if his opponents won the auction, he would transfer his show and merchandise to new platforms he has already established.
Had his supporters succeeded, he would have continued operating on the Infowars platforms.
The families of the Sandy Hook victims had filed defamation suits against Jones in both Connecticut and Texas, citing emotional distress and relentless harassment by Jones and his followers after he falsely claimed the shooting was staged by “crisis actors” to advance gun control.
Attorneys for the Connecticut lawsuit families worked with The Onion to help secure the acquisition, viewing it as an opportunity to prevent further harm and misinformation from Infowars.
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