The satirical news outlet The Onion is back with a bold proposal to take over the Infowars platform, owned by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who is facing significant financial trouble from over $1 billion in defamation judgments linked to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
On Monday, The Onion submitted a proposal to a Texas state judge, seeking an exclusive, temporary license to the intellectual property of Free Speech Systems, the parent company of Infowars. If approved by Judge Maya Guerra Gamble in Austin, this move will allow The Onion to curate content on the Infowars website and social media outlets, targeting an audience craving a comedic take on the current news landscape.
Ben Collins, The Onion's CEO, mentions the deal could be operational around April 30. The company has already started hiring for the new parody-run platform, including Tim Heidecker from the popular parody duo Tim and Eric, known for their work on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.
Collins asserted, “We’ll build this into a bigger comedy network,” highlighting that proceeds would be directed to the Sandy Hook families who suffered distress due to Jones’s conspiracy theories. He added that their goal is to craft characters and narratives around misleading information often peddled as news today.
Following the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy, which resulted in the loss of 20 young lives and six educators, Jones infamously claimed the event was staged by 'crisis actors', leading to widespread defamation suits against him.
In response to The Onion’s proposal, Jones has expressed his determination to fight the licensing arrangement, indicating he might relocate his studio and continue broadcasts on personal social media platforms while planning to ensure availability through radio stations and merchandise sales that generate millions annually.
The proposed licensing agreement spans six months, with a potential six-month renewal as a receiver is appointed to liquidate Infowars’ assets for the benefit of the Sandy Hook families. It requires payment of $81,000 per month for the studio rent and associated utilities, a plan supported by the receiver.
Throughout ongoing defamation trials, victims' families have recounted facing harassment from Jones's followers, highlighting the severe repercussions of his unfounded claims. These legal battles have resulted in substantial damage awards from courts, with Jones now appealing these judgments amid bankruptcy filings from late 2022.
The Onion’s take over, if successful, could establish a landmark approach to addressing misinformation through humor, while providing a financial avenue to those impacted by the havoc wrought by Jones's rhetoric.
