The Onion, a well-known satirical news outlet, has not hesitated to parody Alex Jones’ controversial conspiracy platform, Infowars, even before officially acquiring it. More than a year after its initial attempt to purchase Infowars, The Onion announced plans to launch a parody segment on its website, with a commitment to donate some of the proceeds to families affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. This shooting, which took place in December 2012, resulted in the tragic deaths of 20 children and six adults, and has been the subject of Jones’ unfounded claims that it was a hoax.
The families of the Sandy Hook victims have been fighting for justice against Jones, who was ordered by courts to pay over $1 billion in damages for spreading false narratives. To initiate their parody project, The Onion's CEO, Ben Collins, stated that they will donate $100,000 from merchandise sales that creatively combine the Infowars brand with The Onion’s logo in rainbow colors. According to Collins, the humorists took advantage of the lengthy period of animosity towards Jones, saying, “Don’t give comedy writers a grudge for 18 months.”
The content produced under the parody is set to include a variety of shows and pieces that mimic Jones' aggressive blending of conspiracy theories, pseudoscientific claims, and the promotion of dubious products. In light of the harassment and threats that some families experienced from Jones’ followers, this parody aims to expose and ridicule the wrongful claims perpetuated by Jones regarding the Sandy Hook tragedy.
At its height, Infowars was a significant online presence, recording approximately 10 million monthly visitors and generating over $50 million in annual revenue. However, following the $1.4 billion judgements from multiple defamation lawsuits filed in Connecticut and Texas, Jones' Infowars faced bankruptcy, resulting in its disintegration. As noted by Chris Mattei, an attorney representing several Sandy Hook families, Jones has been left with little, essentially only an iPhone and a microphone, after the legal downfall of Infowars.
Despite these financial setbacks, Jones has managed to continue broadcasting from a different platform. Communication attempts for interviews went unanswered, reflecting his evasive approach to accountability. However, the families of the victims have remained resolute in their determination to ensure that Jones cannot profit from his actions indefinitely. Mattei emphasized that any income generated by Jones goes directly to the families as part of the ongoing legal battle.
In response to the potential sale of Infowars' assets, Collins engaged with Sandy Hook families, who were initially skeptical about The Onion's involvement but ultimately deemed it an opportunity to fight back against the pain inflicted by Jones. Collins expressed his intention not to reveal too much about the upcoming content, set to launch on Thursday, but hinted at some outrageous parody products, including a fictitious “pro oxygen” supplement that claims to replace breathing. This approach mirrors the tactics used by Jones to engage audiences by fostering outrage and anticipation.
The Onion has plans to continue its legal pursuit for control over Infowars’ former properties, including its studio in Austin, Texas. Collins mentioned the eagerness among some Sandy Hook families, particularly Robbie Parker, to utilize the space where Jones once operated to share their stories and experiences of loss. The families initially sought to see Infowars shut down permanently and wished for Jones to disappear from public life. However, they have now embraced the prospect of using parody as a means to highlight social issues, with Mattei expressing optimism about the creative direction of The Onion's engagement with the Infowars legacy.
