In a surprising turn of events, The Onion, the well-known satirical news outlet, has acquired InfoWars. The far-right extremist platform was once helmed by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The purchase, which took place as part of Jones’ bankruptcy proceedings, marks the end of an era for the controversial show. The Onion has announced plans to reshape the show turning it into a complete satire of Jones’ ridiculous ramblings.
For years, InfoWars was synonymous with Jones’ outrageous claims. Many of these promoted hatred and bigotry. He has made numerous anti-LGBTQ+ claims , including that queer people recruit and groom children. He also made the infamous assertion that “chemicals in the water are turning the frickin’ frogs gay.” Overall, he’s known for his repeated transphobic and racist remarks. One was the baseless claim that “Michelle Obama is a man.”
Jones built an empire around spreading misinformation, fear-mongering, and conspiracy theories. The platform’s most notorious moment came when Jones claimed that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. This claim led to years of harassment for the victims’ families. In 2022, after losing multiple defamation lawsuits, Jones was ordered to pay $1 billion in damages. He claimed that he could not afford this and filed for bankruptcy soon after.
Now, after a lengthy legal battle and financial collapse, the once-toxic platform has fallen into the hands of The Onion. The satirical outlet plans to transform InfoWars from a haven for far-right extremism into a comedy show. “We’re going to turn the show into an actual joke,” says a spokesperson for The Onion, promising to mock what had long been a platform for hate and bigotry.
Jones, who remained with InfoWars until the final moments of its shutdown, took to social media to express his disbelief. “I just got word 15 minutes ago that my lawyers met with the U.S. trustee this morning, and they said they are shutting us down without a court order,” Jones announces. “The Connecticut democrats with The Onion newspaper bought us.” True to Jones’ prediction, the site went dark just 90 minutes after the sale was finalized.
For many, The Onion’s acquisition is a moment of celebration. It’s a symbolic victory over the spreading of misinformation and hatred. The platform that once broadcast dangerous lies is now poised to become a space for laughter. It will offer a much-needed light in an otherwise grim media landscape.
After the acquisition, Jones was also removed from his studio in Austin, Texas. His legal team pushed back, saying the sale was not yet final. Since then, Jones has been pushing back, trying to legally fight the sale of his company to the satirical outlet. As of now, he’s back in his studio, but it appears the sale is only a matter of time.
