Parody website The Onion buys conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars platform out of bankruptcy

Published November 14, 2024
Alex Jones of Infowars talks to the media before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in this file photo from September 2018. — Reuters
Alex Jones of Infowars talks to the media before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in this file photo from September 2018. — Reuters

American parody news website The Onion has successfully purchased conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’s Infowars brand and website in a bankruptcy auction, according to court documents filed on Thursday.

Jones filed for bankruptcy protection in 2022 after courts ordered him to pay $1.5 billion for defaming the families of 20 students and six staff members killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Jones, unable to pay those legal judgments, was forced to auction his assets, including Infowars, in bankruptcy.

The Onion is proud to acquire Infowars, and we look forward to continuing its storied tradition of scaring the site’s users with lies until they fork over their cold, hard cash,” US broadcaster CNN reports quoting The Onion’s CEO Ben Collins. “Or Bitcoin. We will also accept Bitcoin.”

According to American magazine Rolling Stone, it remains unclear how much The Onion paid to acquire the platform. However, the satirical site stated on Thursday that its “goal with the acquisition is to end Infowars’ relentless barrage of disinformation for the sake of selling supplements and replace it with The Onion’s relentless barrage of humour for good.”

“They’re shutting us down,” Jones said in a video posted on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. “I’m going to be here until they come in here and turn the lights off.”

CNN reports that Jones decried the sale in his video, deeming it unconstitutional and encouraging fans to follow him on new social media handles.

The Connecticut families of eight victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting backed The Onion’s bid, saying it would put “an end to the misinformation machine” that Jones operated.

The Onion will acquire Infowars’ intellectual property, including its website, customer lists and inventory, certain social media accounts and the Jones’ Infowars’ production equipment, the families said in a statement.

According to CNN, everything from microphones to email lists was up for auction to help pay off the dues Jones owes to the Sandy Hook families, after being found guilty of defamation for calling the massacre a “hoax”.

Jones’ allies had also placed bids, with one source telling CNN that one of those bids was in the “seven figures” range. Jones had said on his show that “good guys” had been trying to bid on Infowars to keep him in place, but that even if they fail, he’ll keep broadcasting on new platforms and new social media accounts.

Opinion

Editorial

Mineral wealth
Updated 10 Apr, 2025

Mineral wealth

The Baloch unrest is partly the result of the belief that the province’s resources are being used for the rest of the country rather than for Balochistan’s economic development.
Senate shortfalls
10 Apr, 2025

Senate shortfalls

THE latest Citizens’ Report by Pildat on the performance of the Senate of Pakistan is a sobering account of...
Crypto coup
10 Apr, 2025

Crypto coup

IT is quite the coup. One of the most recognisable names in the global cryptocurrency market has been roped in by ...
Following through
Updated 09 Apr, 2025

Following through

Reconciliation, development, and deradicalisation initiatives cannot remain dormant words in a policy document.
Robe rebellion
09 Apr, 2025

Robe rebellion

THE unrest within the Islamabad High Court shows no sign of abating, and it is perhaps just as well that the ...
Fearing birth
09 Apr, 2025

Fearing birth

AMID dramatic aid cuts, the WHO has sounded the alarm about the dangers to Pakistan’s mothers and newborns, asking...