The Onion
In a surprising turn of events, the far-right conspiracy theory outlet Infowars, heralded by controversial figure Alex Jones, has been bought out by satirical news site, The Onion. This unprecedented purchase followed Infowars being declared bankrupt due to lawsuits over defamation pertaining to the founder’s false claims regarding the Sandy Hook massacre. Ironically, The Onion, which is renowned for its satirical take on news, was backed in its bid by the Connecticut families of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting. In a clever twist on traditional acquisitions, The Onion has acquired Infowars’ assets with the sole intent to repurpose it into a parody of its former self.
Irony
Through an exercise in poetic justice, The Onion wrested control of Infowars to keep it out of the grips of Jones’ alt-right allies. This move not only served as a powerful strike against spreading misinformation but also gave The Onion a unique platform to gain increased publicity. The Onion, now under the ownership of Jeff Lawson, former CEO of Twilio and co-founder of the media company Global Tetrahedron, plans to relaunch Infowars as a mockery of its former state, dedicated to satirizing ‘weird Internet personalities’ like Jones. Furthermore, Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization launched in response to Sandy Hook, will advertise on the revamped Infowars site.
Satirical Takeover
In a humorous twist, The Onion managed to outwit Jones through its strategic acquisition and promises a new age of parodical content. Created in the heydays of the ‘Satanic panic’, Infowars sought to stir the public through delusional paranoia and perhaps questionable anti-aging nutritional advice. Drawing from this, The Onion plans to create content that highlights both humor and a critical workplace satire. In doing so, it aims to reinforce its stance against mass shootings, building on their running joke headlined as ‘No Way To Prevent This’, Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens.
Accountability
Disinformation’s far-reaching consequences were made evident when Infowars tragically painted the Sandy Hook massacre as an elaborate hoax. Legacy media outlets and families of the victims collectively fought Jones in the courts leading to his damning defamation verdict. Through the acquisition, The Onion has indirectly served a public good, removing Jones from the helm of Infowars and curtailing his ability to release harmful content. Parents like Robbie Parker underscored the importance of accountability in public forums, celebrating The Onion’s purchase as an essential victory for justice.
Future Plans
On its part, The Onion, backed by Jeff Lawson’s Global Tetrahedron, will dedicate the funds initially allocated for the purchase towards philanthropic endeavours. Furthermore, The Onion is set to reintroduce Infowars as a comedic parody of its original site, aiming to reflect the absurdities of internet personalities. Moreover, The Onion’s choice to align with Everytown for Gun Safety reflects its interest in curbing gun violence while maintaining its commitment to satire. As a platform promoting accountability, The Onion serves as an ironic reminder of the battles fought by Sandy Hook families against Jones’ online empire.
