Satirical information web site The Onion mentioned it has reached an settlement to take over conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ InfoWars firm, in a transfer that might assist repay the greater than $1 billion he owes the households of Sandy Hook capturing victims.
Should The Onion win court docket approval, it will cap a authorized saga lasting greater than 18 months over the way forward for Jones’ web site and present.
“We’ve wanted this the whole time. We have not backed down at any moment,” The Onion CEO Ben Collins advised NCS in an interview.
Under the settlement, and with the assist of the Sandy Hook households, The Onion will initially pay a month-to-month licensing charge to the court-appointed receiver overseeing InfoWars. Collins mentioned the corporate has additionally signed a deal to buy the total property as soon as the present judicial keep expires.
Jones was discovered responsible for defamation in 2022 after repeatedly claiming on-air that the 2012 Sandy Hook bloodbath, wherein six adults and 20 youngsters have been killed, was a “hoax.” He has but to pay a single cent of the greater than $1 billion in damages he owes the households. As a consequence, Jones’ property went up on the market.
In 2024, The Onion gained a court-mandated public sale for Infowars’ father or mother firm, backed by the Sandy Hook households. But a federal chapter decide halted the sale, citing considerations concerning the public sale course of and disputes over the bids. The decide later mentioned the households ought to pursue what they’re owed in state court docket slightly than on the federal degree.
In August 2025, the state court ruled that InfoWars’ father or mother firm could be turned over to the court-appointed receiver, who could be accountable for promoting the property and utilizing the proceeds to pay Jones’ money owed to the Sandy Hook households.
“It’s been eight years and three days since the Sandy Hook families initially filed this lawsuit, and they have not received a f**king penny,” Collins mentioned. “So, we’re excited to get them immediate pennies with some merch sales — but also longer-term pennies once we do wind up eventually straight up buying this thing.”
The new InfoWars will function as a digital platform and comedy community led by “creative director” Tim Heidecker of “Tim & Eric” fame, who will parody Jones himself.
The outlet will goal to characteristic newer, unbiased comedians who “don’t have a mountain to climb in the comedy world,” Collins mentioned. “We want to give them that mountain.”
There shall be loads of The Onion’s signature type of stories satire, Collins mentioned, noting that a lot of the preliminary content material will parody social media influencers and media figures like Jones who peddle questionable dietary supplements.
“The Sandy Hook families took on Alex Jones to stop him from inflicting the same harm on others. For years, he used his corrupt business platform to torment and harass them for profit,” mentioned Chris Mattei, an legal professional for the Sandy Hook households. “When InfoWars finally goes dark, the machinery of lies that Jones built will become a force for social good, thanks to the families’ courage and The Onion’s vision, persistence and stewardship.”
Jones mentioned on his present Monday that he’ll hold “the exact same show” on a new web site and can “continue to fight” what he has known as “incredible corruption” within the authorized case in opposition to him. He didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
A listening to on The Onion’s licensing settlement is ready for April 30 in Travis County, Texas.