In a remarkable twist, satirical news outlet The Onion has acquired Infowars, the controversial platform founded by Alex Jones in 1999. This acquisition, announced under the fake CEO Bryce P. Tetraeder on November 14, 2024, occurred during a bankruptcy auction following Jones’ filing in 2022. The bankruptcy was a result of defamation lawsuits brought by the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, who were awarded nearly $1.5 billion in damages for Jones’ false claims about the shooting being a hoax.
The Onion, renowned for its satirical take on current events, plans to relaunch Infowars as a parody site. CEO Ben Collins stated that the new Infowars would be "very funny" and "very stupid," aiming to mock conspiracy theories and promote humour over misinformation. This could be seen as a form of "karmic justice," considering Jones' history of spreading falsehoods about the Sandy Hook tragedy. Additionally, the acquisition comes at a time just after some rapid changes for The Onion as a whole, having been passed around several parent companies through various mergers, and was finally sold to Global Tetrahedron, a firm established by former Twlio CEO Jeff Lawson, in April of this year.
The Sandy Hook families supported the acquisition and agreed to forgo a portion of their recovery to increase the overall value of The Onion's bid, with one lawyer stating, “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,”. Gun control advocacy group, Everytown for Gun Safety, will also have an exclusive advertising deal upon the relaunch.
However, the sale has faced legal challenges. Jones’s lawyers have raised concerns about the auction process, claiming that the bankruptcy trustee improperly selected The Onion's lower bid over a higher one from First United American Companies, a Jones-affiliated entity. A federal bankruptcy judge has ordered a hearing to address these concerns and determine whether the auction process was conducted properly. Additionally, Jones has claimed that the takeover is a “total attack on free speech”.
The acquisition highlights the complex intersection of media, law, and satire. The Onion seeks to transform a platform known for conspiracy theories and inciting paranoia into a space for humour in such tumultuous times. The involvement of the Sandy Hook families and Everytown for Gun Safety underscores the broader societal implications of this move, aiming to counteract misinformation and promote responsible discourse.
The Onion's acquisition of Infowars also raises questions about the role of satire in addressing serious issues. By taking over a platform that has propagated conspiracy theories, The Onion may be able to reach an audience that might not typically engage with traditional forms of satire. This strategy could be a powerful tool in combating misinformation by using humour to highlight the absurdity of conspiracy theories and may be more popular among the younger generations. The Onion has already successfully increased its outreach to the youth, with its official account on the social media platform TikTok garnering over 1.1 million followers, which is no easy task.
The legal challenges to the acquisition reflect the ongoing tensions between free speech and accountability. While Jones has the right to express his views under the First Amendment, that does not exclude him from freedom from consequences. The bankruptcy auction and subsequent acquisition by The Onion represent a unique resolution to this conflict, aiming to repurpose a platform known for harm into one that promotes humour and critical thinking.
Overall, The Onion's acquisition of Infowars is a multifaceted development that intertwines media, law, and societal values. It offers an innovative approach to addressing the challenges of misinformation and highlights the potential of satire as a tool for social change. As the finer details of the acquisition are ironed out, the public will have to see what kind of precedent this deal sets regarding spreading harmful misinformation and conspiracies.