The Onion Buys Alex Jones’ Infowars in Landmark Satire Move
In an unexpected twist, The Onion, the renowned satirical news platform, has acquired Infowars, the controversial media outlet formerly helmed by Alex Jones. The transaction follows Jones’ extensive legal battles that resulted in bankruptcy and a court-mandated auction to pay over $1.5 billion in defamation damages to families of Sandy Hook shooting victims. The acquisition, finalised in November, includes Infowars’ brand, intellectual property, social media, and physical assets.
The Onion plans to reimagine Infowars as a satirical outlet, marking a notable shift from its previous association with conspiracy theories and misinformation. The Onion’sExecutive Editor, Ben Berkley, explained, “Our goal is to transform a harmful platform into one that uses satire to critique and illuminate the very topics it once distorted.” The revamped Infowars will mock conspiracy narratives, including those that Jones popularised while pushing for greater media literacy through irony and humour.
Berkley emphasised that this acquisition is a symbolic and strategic response to the misinformation prevalent in online spaces, where parody can challenge the same narratives once taken seriously on Infowars. “We hope this new Infowars will be both a funny and thought-provoking platform for audiences to confront and question disinformation,” he said.
Public and Advocacy Reactions
The Onion’s move has garnered support from advocacy groups and members of the public who view it as a creative solution to address the harms of conspiracy-led media. Sandy Hook family representatives and anti-misinformation groups voiced their support, welcoming the new direction. “This sale feels like a form of poetic justice,” said a spokesperson from the non-profit Sandy Hook Promise, which has long advocated against platforms profiting from misinformation at the expense of real victims.
Alex Jones, meanwhile, expressed disappointment and frustration, labelling the acquisition as part of “an ongoing effort to silence dissent.” Jones had previously expressed a wish for a “patriotic buyer” to acquire Infowars and preserve its messaging. In response to the acquisition, Jones announced plans to launch new ventures or alternate outlets, though legal limitations may hinder these efforts.
What to Expect from the New Infowars
Infowars, under The Onion’s leadership, will relaunch in early 2025. The rebranded site will shift away from selling supplements and pushing extreme views, instead aiming to expose the absurdities of misinformation with humour. Berkley noted that the satirical site will still cover current events but with a distinctly critical, comedic approach that challenges conspiracy culture and misinformation from within.
Conclusion
The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars marks a unique twist in the media landscape, transforming a site known for misinformation into one aimed at satirical critique. The move offers a fresh take on the role of satire in challenging disinformation, as Infowars prepares to relaunch under its new, humorous mandate.
