AUSTIN, Texas — Satirical news publication The Onion is making a renewed attempt to acquire conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars media empire and convert it into a parody platform.
A Texas judge will decide Thursday whether to greenlight the comedy outlet’s latest acquisition proposal, even as Jones has submitted eleventh-hour appeals in both state and federal courts attempting to block the proceedings. This legal battle stems from ongoing disputes over the more than $1 billion Jones must pay to families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims after he falsely claimed the 2012 Connecticut tragedy was staged.
This isn’t The Onion’s first attempt to secure the Infowars brand, and the publication is preparing for potential success. The comedy site has already begun marketing Infowars products through its own online store, featuring shirts and bags displaying an Infowars logo modified to include The Onion’s signature symbol replacing the letter ‘o.’
Jones has promised to resist any Onion acquisition. Should the takeover proceed, he plans to maintain his broadcasts through personal social media profiles, new websites, and the numerous radio stations that carry his show. He also intends to continue his merchandise operations, including nutritional supplements and apparel that generate millions annually.
Multiple family members of the 20 children and six staff members murdered at Sandy Hook filed lawsuits against Jones and his business in both Connecticut and Texas courts for defamation and emotional harm after he claimed the massacre was performed by ‘crisis actors’ to promote stricter gun legislation.
Family members provided testimony describing how Jones’ followers sent them death and sexual assault threats, confronted them in person, and bombarded them with hostile social media messages.
Jones maintained there was insufficient evidence connecting him to his followers’ behavior, though he acknowledged under oath that the shooting actually occurred.
Connecticut courts awarded victims’ families more than $1.4 billion in damages against Jones, later reduced by approximately $150 million during the appeals process. Texas courts ordered Jones to pay nearly $50 million in damages, with his Texas appeal still ongoing.
Jones declared bankruptcy in late 2022.
Throughout three decades, Jones promoted numerous conspiracy theories, including claims that the U.S. government orchestrated or allowed the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the September 11 attacks.
As his false statements became increasingly extreme, his reach expanded across radio networks, the Infowars website, and social media platforms.
Following his dismissal from an Austin radio station in the mid-1990s, he started broadcasting from his residence using his Infowars website. He purchased the domain name for just $9.
In 2004, his operation consisted of two staff members and a small office. By 2010, Jones employed more than 60 people. By 2024, he operated four Austin studios and a warehouse for his product sales.
Jones claims he has prepared a new Austin studio facility in case he loses Infowars.
Jones’ bankruptcy proceedings included a 2024 auction to sell Infowars’ assets to help satisfy the court judgments, with The Onion selected as the successful bidder. However, the bankruptcy judge rejected that arrangement, pointing to issues with The Onion’s offer and the auction procedures.
The bankruptcy judge subsequently permitted the Sandy Hook families to pursue asset liquidation through state court. Jones has challenged that decision.
The Onion’s current proposal involves a six-month licensing agreement with renewal options while a court-designated receiver works toward eventually selling the assets of Free Speech Systems, Infowars’ parent company. Money from the asset sale would go to the Sandy Hook families.
The Onion would contribute $81,000 monthly to cover building rent for the Infowars studios, utilities, and other operational expenses.
The Onion recently revealed it has recruited staff to operate the redesigned Infowars platforms, including Tim Heidecker from the comedy partnership Tim and Eric, recognized for their Cartoon Network ‘Adult Swim’ programming. Beyond parody content, plans include featuring various comedy formats.
Headquartered in Chicago, The Onion launched in the 1980s and has spent decades satirizing politics and popular culture, frequently targeting Jones in mocking articles. The publication uses ‘America’s Finest News Source’ as its tagline.
Following mass shootings in America, The Onion typically republishes modified versions of one of its most famous recurring satirical pieces: “‘No Way to Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens.”
