The Onion Acquires Infowars, Dismantles Alex Jones’ Disinformation Platform for Satirical Overhaul

Satirical publication The Onion has acquired Infowars, the notorious media platform founded by right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Known for peddling sensationalist and baseless claims, Infowars has now been absorbed into The Onion’s comedic empire. This marks a significant shift in the platform’s future, as The Onion plans to replace its history of disinformation with a fresh dose of humor.

The acquisition reportedly gives The Onion control over Infowars’ website, social media channels, product inventory, customer lists, and intellectual property. This major change comes nearly a year after Jones faced a substantial legal reckoning. Following multiple lawsuits in 2022, Jones was ordered to pay $1.5 billion to families of Sandy Hook victims due to his false claims that the 2012 school shooting was a hoax. In September, a Texas judge ruled that Jones’ assets, including Infowars, could be sold off to help cover these penalties, ultimately leading to Infowars’ purchase by The Onion.

While the exact cost of the acquisition has not been disclosed, The Onion was clear about its goals for Infowars. “Our mission with this 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 humor for good,” the publication stated in a recent release.

The change does not seem to sit well with Jones, who expressed his discontent in a video following the announcement. In his response, Jones lashed out at The Onion, oddly referring to the Chicago-based publication as “Connecticut Democrats” and criticizing the sale process.

One notable part of The Onion’s strategy includes a partnership with gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, which will serve as an exclusive advertiser on Infowars under its new ownership. This partnership highlights The Onion’s goal of reorienting Infowars into a tool for education and awareness on critical issues, including gun safety. John Feinblatt, president of Everytown, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “It’s fitting that a platform once used to profit off of tragedy will now help educate. We’re proud to support a venture that stands to not only stop the spread of harmful disinformation but also advance awareness about gun safety and accountability in the industry.”

With Infowars’ new satirical direction, The Onion and Everytown aim to reshape what was once a platform for conspiracy into a tool for truth through humor.