The Onion Acquires Infowars at Bankruptcy Auction
The satirical news publication the Onion has won the bidding for Alex Jones’ Infowars at a bankruptcy auction, backed by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims whom Jones owes more than $1 billion in defamation judgments for calling the massacre a hoax.
Families of Sandy Hook Victims React
“The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for,” Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was killed in the 2012 shooting in Connecticut, said in a statement provided by his lawyers.
Sale Price and Future Plans
The sale price was not immediately disclosed. The Onion, a satirical site, bills itself as “the world’s leading news publication, offering highly acclaimed, universally revered coverage of breaking national, international, and local news events” and says it has 4.3 trillion daily readers.
Alex Jones’ Reaction
Jones confirmed the Onion’s acquisition of Infowars in a social media video Thursday and said he planned to file legal challenges to stop it. An email message seeking comment was sent to Infowars.
Jones’ Live Broadcast
Jones was broadcasting live from the Infowars studio Thursday morning and appeared distraught, putting his head in his hand at his desk. “Last broadcast now live from Infowars studios. They are in the building. Are ordering shutdown without court approval,” Jones said on the social platform X.
What’s Next for Infowars?
It was not immediately clear what the Onion planned to do with the conspiracy theory platform, including its website, social media accounts, studio in Austin, Texas, trademarks, and video archive. The Chicago-based Onion did not immediately return emails seeking comment Thursday.
Bidders and Lawsuits
Sealed bids for the private auction were opened Wednesday. Both supporters and detractors of Jones had expressed interest in buying Infowars. The other bidders have not been disclosed. Jones has been sued by families of the Sandy Hook victims for defamation and emotional distress, with lawyers for the families working with the Onion to acquire Infowars.
Conclusion
The acquisition of Infowars by the Onion marks a significant victory for the families of the Sandy Hook victims, who have been seeking justice for years. The fate of the conspiracy theory platform remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Alex Jones’ empire is crumbling.
FAQs
Q: What is the Onion?
A: The Onion is a satirical news publication that bills itself as “the world’s leading news publication, offering highly acclaimed, universally revered coverage of breaking national, international, and local news events”.
Q: How much does the Onion plan to do with Infowars?
A: It is not immediately clear what the Onion plans to do with the conspiracy theory platform, including its website, social media accounts, studio in Austin, Texas, trademarks, and video archive.
Q: Will Alex Jones continue to broadcast?
A: Jones has said that if his detractors bought Infowars, he would move his daily broadcasts and product sales to a new studio, websites, and social media accounts that he has already set up.
Q: How much does Alex Jones owe in defamation judgments?
A: Jones owes more than $1 billion in defamation judgments for calling the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting a hoax.
