Satirical news website The Onion has won the bidding for Infowars, Alex Jones’ far-right online outlet known for spreading conspiracy theories, at a bankruptcy auction.
The transaction was backed by families of the victims of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, though financial details have not been disclosed.
The deadliest elementary school shooting in U.S. history — which left 26 people dead, including 20 kids — was repeatedly called a hoax by Jones, a notorious conspiracy theorist who now owes who owes nearly $1.5 billion to the victims he defamed.
“The dissolution of Alex Jones’ assets and the death of Infowars is the justice we have long awaited and fought for,” Robbie Parker, the father of a young girl killed in the massacre, said through his lawyers.
The Michael Bloomberg-founded nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety, which advocates for gun control and against gun violence, has been announced as the site’s exclusive launch advertiser.
The winning bid means The Onion will now run Infowars’ website, trademarks, video archive, social media accounts, as well a studio in Austin, Texas.
“Everytown will continue to raise awareness on InfoWars’ channels about gun violence prevention and present actual solutions to our nation’s gun violence crisis, including bipartisan, common-sense measures and public safety initiatives backed by Everytown,” The Onion said in a statement.
In a video posted on X on Thursday, Jones said that “the Connecticut Democrats with The Onion newspaper” had won the bidding. He vowed to challenge the acquisition in court.
With News Wire Services
