The satirical news outlet The Onion is back with a bold plan to take over the Infowars platforms of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, whose company is heading towards liquidation due to over $1 billion in defamation judgments owed to families of Sandy Hook shooting victims.
Submitted to a Texas state judge on Monday, The Onion's proposal seeks an exclusive, temporary license for Infowars’ intellectual property, allowing The Onion to post content on Infowars’ website and social media. Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, stated that should the court approve this, the new operation could commence by April 30. He has already recruited personnel to manage Infowars as a parody site, including Tim Heidecker, renowned for his work on Cartoon Network’s “Adult Swim” shows.
Collins remarked, “We’ll build this into a bigger comedy network,” emphasizing that profits would support the Sandy Hook families. He noted the current state of news consumption where misinformation proliferates, indicating they plan to create satirical characters and worlds based on such absurdity.
Since the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy, where 20 children and six educators were killed, Jones has propagated conspiracy theories, leading to extensive legal repercussions, including lawsuits for defamation and emotional distress from victims' relatives.
On his recent show, Jones pledged to contest the licensing proposal in court while preparing to continue his broadcasts from a different studio, ensuring his content remains available on personal social media and radio channels. He remains determined, stating, “I’m going to continue the exact same show.”
The temporary licensing arrangement with The Onion would last for six months, with a potential six-month renewal while a court-appointed receiver oversees the sale of Infowars’ assets for the benefit of the Sandy Hook families.
Notably, during a defamation trial in Connecticut, evidence revealed that individuals associated with Jones’ followers subjected the families to severe harassment due to the conspiracy claims. A jury awarded the families substantial damages, reinforcing the impact of Jones’ statements on their lives.
Jones, who filed for bankruptcy in late 2022, initially saw a failed auction for Infowars’ assets, with The Onion reportedly winning the bid. However, complications led to the court reversing the auction results. The ongoing legal battles maintain a hold on the company’s liquidation.
A representative for the Sandy Hook families has shown support for The Onion's proposal, indicating a potential step towards compensating them through this comedic venture.
