The story of Alex Jones and his far-right conspiracy theory empire Infowars took a surprising turn recently when satirical news publication The Onion purchased the company at a bankruptcy auction. This sale was ordered after families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting successfully sued Jones for defamation and emotional distress. Jones had repeatedly spread false claims that the shooting was a hoax orchestrated by crisis actors to promote gun control.
Jones began his career in the early 1990s, broadcasting on public-access television in Texas. He gained attention for promoting conspiracy theories about the U.S. government and the New World Order. Over the years, Jones grew his media empire, eventually having over 60 employees and generating annual revenues of up to $80 million. His fan base listened to him on radio stations across the U.S. and through his Infowars website and social media platforms.
One of Jones’ most infamous lies was his promotion of the conspiracy theory that the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax. He referred to the parents of the slain children as “crisis actors” and claimed the shooting was fake. After facing defamation lawsuits in both Connecticut and Texas, Jones eventually admitted in 2022 that the shooting was real and expressed regret for his irresponsible actions.
The lawsuits against Jones brought by the families of Sandy Hook victims revealed the extent of the torment, threats, and abuse they faced as a result of Jones’ false claims. Courts in Texas and Connecticut found Jones liable for defamation and awarded the families nearly $1.5 billion in damages. Jones’ personal bankruptcy case led to the auction of Infowars’ assets, including the website, social media accounts, and video archive. The Onion acquired these assets, though the sale price was not disclosed.
Following the sale, Jones vowed to challenge the process in court, claiming that the trustee overseeing the auction changed the bidding process. His legal team alleged that there were irregularities in how The Onion won the bid. Despite the controversy surrounding the auction, Infowars’ website was down, and Jones was broadcasting from a new studio location. The acquisition of Infowars by The Onion marks a significant development in the ongoing saga between Jones and the families of the Sandy Hook victims.
