How will Infowars evolve from Alex Jones’ infamous conspiracy theory platform to embrace the satirical approach of its new owners?
Recently, the renowned satirical news outlet The Onion emerged as the winning bidder in the auction for Alex Jones’ Infowars, a move prompted by Jones’ bankruptcy. This transaction represents a significant shift from a platform driven by unfounded conspiracy theories to one that specializes in satire.
Alex Jones, now 50, gained notoriety in the 1990s as a far-right commentator, launching a media career that allowed him to disseminate misinformation and bizarre conspiracy theories. His creation, Infowars, established in 1999, became his flagship platform, reaching annual revenues nearing $80 million (€75 million) at its peak.
Through Infowars, Jones gained infamy for promoting far-right theories while pushing numerous outlandish narratives. One of his most infamous claims suggested that the Obama administration was poisoning water supplies to “turn the friggin’ frogs gay.”
However, Jones faced severe backlash after asserting that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax backed by the US government to strengthen gun control measures. He infamously labeled the grieving parents of the shooting victims as “crisis actors” and dismissed the tragedy as “phoney as a three-dollar bill.”
Jones subsequently acknowledged in 2022 that the massacre was “100% real” and called his previous statements “absolutely irresponsible.”
Families of the victims who pursued legal action against Jones reported years of harassment and threats from individuals influenced by his broadcasts. In landmark decisions, courts in Texas and Connecticut found Jones liable for defamation regarding his false claims about Sandy Hook, resulting in nearly $1.5 billion (€1.4 billion) awarded to the affected families.
Following the legal repercussions and hefty damages, Jones filed for bankruptcy and began liquidating assets to cover the verdict. This included the auctioning of Infowars, allowing The Onion to step in with a competitive bid. This shift marks the endpoint of Jones’ controversial reign over the platform, paving the way for a new era under a company famed for its parodic content.
Yet, the judge overseeing Jones’ bankruptcy case raised concerns about the auction process, scheduling a hearing for next week after complaints were lodged by Jones’ legal team about the bidding process, which included a $3.5 million (€3.3 million) bid from an affiliated company.
Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was a victim in the Sandy Hook tragedy, expressed satisfaction, stating, “The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for.”
In a furious reaction during a live broadcast, Jones denounced the sale as “an attack on free speech.” He announced the end of his show but promptly resumed broadcasts from a new studio nearby, transmitting live on social media platform X.
Post-hearing, Jones reiterated his belief that the auction was unfairly influenced, expressing hope that the judge would invalidate the sale. He indicated that he had positioned himself for a potential resurgence on Infowars if his supporters emerged victorious in the bidding process, revealing that he had already established new studios, websites, and social media platforms.
“This was an auction that didn’t truly take place, with a bid that fell short and funding that wasn’t legitimate,” he insisted.
Meanwhile, Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion’s parent company, Global Tetrahedron, announced plans to reintroduce the Infowars website in January, focusing on satire that targets conspiracy theorists and right-wing figures. The initiative will also include educational content regarding gun violence prevention, created in collaboration with Everytown for Gun Safety.
Collins withheld the exact bid amount but shared his playful rationale: “We thought it would be a very funny joke if we bought this thing, probably one of the better jokes we’ve ever told.” He added that the Sandy Hook families aligned with their bid to ensure that the site wouldn’t continue as a platform for spreading misinformation.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Euronews
