In a remarkable turn of events within the media landscape, satirical news outlet The Onion has successfully acquired Infowars through a bankruptcy auction. The deal, backed by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims, marks a significant shift in the controversial media platform’s ownership.
The acquisition encompasses Free Speech Systems, Infowars’ parent company, including its website, customer database, social media presence, production facilities, Texas studio, trademarks, and extensive video archives. The financial terms remain undisclosed, though the deal’s structure involves concessions from Sandy Hook families who agreed to reduce their compensation to enhance The Onion’s bid.
This strategic move follows Alex Jones’ bankruptcy filing in 2022, triggered by court-ordered damages totalling nearly £1.2 billion. These penalties stemmed from Jones’ persistent false claims about the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, where 20 children and six teachers lost their lives.
The Onion’s chief executive, Ben Collins, expressed the company’s intention to transform Infowars’ business model, shifting away from supplement sales driven by disinformation towards satirical content. Gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety has been announced as the exclusive launch advertiser for the rebranded platform, scheduled for early 2024.
Despite Jones’ immediate response on social media platform X, declaring Infowars’ closure and promising legal challenges, the site continues to demonstrate significant reach, recording 6.6 million visits in October according to Similarweb data. The acquisition, backed by Global Tetrahedron and Twilio co-founder Jeff Lawson, represents a pivotal moment in digital media consolidation.
The Sandy Hook families’ legal representative, Chris Mattei, emphasised their rejection of Jones’ monetary offers that would have allowed him to maintain broadcasting rights, prioritising public safety over financial gain. This transaction effectively ends Jones’ control over one of the most controversial media platforms in recent American history.
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