The satirical news outlet The Onion has successfully acquired Infowars, the conspiracy theory platform founded by Alex Jones, through a bankruptcy auction backed by the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims.
The auction, held Wednesday, resulted in The Onion securing Infowars’ parent company Free Speech Systems and its associated assets, including the website, social media profiles, Austin-based studio, trademarks, and video archives. Financial details of the sale were not disclosed.
Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, called the acquisition “the justice we have long sought and battled for.” The families had previously won a $1.5 billion defamation lawsuit against Jones for claiming the massacre was a hoax.
According to sources, The Onion plans to completely shut down the current Infowars website and relaunch it with content from internet comedians and humor writers. Everytown for Gun Safety will serve as the exclusive launch advertiser, with plans to use the platform to raise awareness about gun violence prevention.
Jones acknowledged the sale on social media, stating he intends to challenge the acquisition legally and continue broadcasting on alternative platforms.
The auction attracted interest from both Jones’ supporters and opponents, with The Onion emerging as the winning bidder. The sale marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal battle surrounding Jones’ inflammatory conspiracy theories and their impact on the families of Sandy Hook victims.
