In an unexpected twist in the ongoing legal saga surrounding conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, the satirical news outlet The Onion has proposed a licensing arrangement to take over his Infowars media platforms. The plan, which requires judicial approval, would allow The Onion to publish parody content on Infowars' channels for an initial six-month period, with an option to extend for another six months.
This latest development comes after Infowars faces liquidation following defamation judgments worth hundreds of millions of dollars won by families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Jones had repeatedly spread false claims about the tragedy, which killed 26 people, including calling it "a giant hoax" and suggesting it was "completely fake with actors." He later acknowledged the killings were real but maintained his statements were protected by free speech.
"My vision was to create a bunch of characters and worlds that were designed to parody online personalities who spend their time staring into their camera and just like coming up with conspiracy theories or telling you health hacks that will actually get you poisoned, things like that," said The Onion's chief executive Ben Collins in an interview with the Associated Press.
Collins added that if the licensing deal is approved, profits from the venture would go to the Sandy Hook families.
The proposal represents The Onion's second attempt to acquire control of Infowars. A previous bid to purchase the company outright was rejected by a judge who raised concerns about the auction process. Jones has indicated he will resist this latest effort as well, telling AP he would continue to broadcast "the exact same show."
The legal battle has been lengthy and complex. Jones declared bankruptcy in 2022 as the Sandy Hook case progressed through courts, and in June 2024, a judge ordered the liquidation of his personal assets. Jones is currently appealing the ruling that would liquidate his company.
If approved, The Onion's takeover would mark a dramatic transformation of Infowars from a platform known for spreading conspiracy theories to one dedicated to satirizing them—a move that would represent one of the most unusual media transitions in recent memory.