The Onion, a satire website, has revealed a new strategy to acquire the controversial Infowars website owned by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The Onion’s parent company, Global Tetrahedron, aims to transform Infowars into a comedy network as part of the acquisition plan. This move comes after Jones declared bankruptcy in 2022, following legal judgments totaling over $1.4 billion to the families affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
In a bid to take over Infowars’ parent company, Free Speech Systems, The Onion has proposed a temporary exclusive license to Infowars’ intellectual property. If approved by Judge Maya Guerra Gamble in Austin, the deal could be finalized by April 30. The Onion plans to parody the original content on Infowars and redirect profits to the Sandy Hook families.
Key figures like Tim Heidecker have been recruited by The Onion for this venture. The acquisition includes taking over the InfoWars studio, IP address, and website. The decision to acquire Infowars was driven by a sense of moral responsibility to prevent further harm caused by the platform.
The move has received support from the Sandy Hook families who faced harassment due to Jones’ conspiracy theories. Jones had previously spread false claims about the Sandy Hook shooting, leading to defamation lawsuits and significant financial penalties. Despite Jones’ intentions to fight the licensing proposal, The Onion is determined to proceed with the transformation of Infowars into a comedy network.
The deal signifies a significant development in the ongoing battle against misinformation and harmful content online. With plans to parody Jones’ controversial content and address the legacy of false claims, The Onion’s acquisition of Infowars marks a step towards turning a platform of harm into one of humor and accountability.