Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones went into a fiery meltdown on air this week when he learned that his infamous website, Infowars, was taken offline during a live broadcast. The meltdown, which occurred during a simulcast with Steve Bannon’s War Room, quickly made waves across the internet, particularly when it was revealed that The Onion—the satirical news site known for its irreverent humor—had purchased Infowars in a bankruptcy auction.
Jones, who has spent years promoting conspiracy theories ranging from the 9/11 attacks to the Sandy Hook shooting being a hoax, was visibly shaken and frustrated as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. On the broadcast, he exclaimed, “Steve, Infowars has been taken down! Infowars.com has been taken down! No court order, nothing!” Jones was referring to the recent bankruptcy proceedings following his conviction in a defamation lawsuit filed by the families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, for which he was found liable for spreading false claims that the tragedy was a government hoax.
During his tirade, Jones voiced his disbelief over the auction’s outcome. “We’ve been fighting tooth and nail to stay on air,” he said, “but the site’s down, and [the U.S. trustee] says they’re going to Houston to get an emergency hearing before the judge.”
He then shifted his ire toward The Onion, accusing the satirical outlet of benefiting from shady financial backers, claiming, “But then with these people, The Onion, cause they’re God and you know, [George Soros] or whoever gave him the money doesn’t have to do that, Steve.”
The idea that an outlet like The Onion, known for mocking everyone from politicians to media figures, could be involved in his downfall seemed to push Jones over the edge. He also expressed frustration that his supporters should have won the auction instead of the satirical news outlet. “I followed the rules, and then they changed the auction at the last moment, made it secret, and won’t tell you,” Jones gasped.
As Jones struggled to maintain composure, Bannon, who had been his last guest on Infowars, remarked that he was “greatly honored” to have been on the show for its final broadcast.
Here’s the exchange:
Alex Jones website Infowars has just been taken down. pic.twitter.com/4DLVFvd5ge
— Zlunks (@Zlunks) November 14, 2024
While Jones was consumed by rage and confusion, the news of The Onion purchasing Infowars brought joy and laughter to many across social media. Political commentator Tony Michaels couldn’t contain his glee, posting a video with a joyful cackle, calling the acquisition “the best f—— revenge!”
The satire site itself jumped in on the fun, publishing a gleeful editorial written by its parody CEO, Bryce P. Tetraeder. The piece made light of Infowars’ history, mocking its role in spreading misinformation and its unique ability to “simultaneously inspire public support for billionaires and stoke outrage at an inept federal state.” Tetraeder’s editorial poked fun at the absurdity of the Infowars brand, saying it had been “an invaluable tool for brainwashing and controlling the masses,” and even quipped that the site had “a shrewd mix of delusional paranoia and dubious anti-aging nutrition hacks.”
Independent journalist Meghann Cuniff also shared her delight, saying simply, “Fantastic. I love the Onion,” while journalism professor Jeff Jarvis expressed shock but added, “G’bless” to the news. CNN’s Bill Weir felt compelled to clarify that the Onion’s purchase of Infowars was “not an Onion headline,” highlighting just how bizarre the situation had become.
Popular liberal influencer Angry Staffer summed up the feelings of many when they tweeted, “I needed this news today.”
The real kicker in this unexpected twist came from The Onion itself. According to reports from CNN and The New York Times, the satirical site secured the rights to Infowars in an auction following Jones’ bankruptcy, which was a direct result of the massive defamation suit filed by the families of Sandy Hook victims. In 2022, a Connecticut jury ordered Jones to pay nearly $1.5 billion in damages for spreading false claims about the shooting.
The Onion took full advantage of the moment with a tongue-in-cheek editorial. Tetraeder, the mock CEO, explained that the site had been purchased “much like family members, our brands are abstract nodes of wealth, interchangeable assets for their patriarch to absorb and discard according to the opaque whims of the market.” The editorial, dripping with sarcasm, boasted of the site’s ability to “induce rage and radicalize vulnerable Americans,” before taking jabs at Jones himself, calling him “a forgettable man with an already-forgotten name.”
The article continued with typical Onion humor, mocking the price they paid for the website and suggesting future business ventures for the new Infowars owners. Among the more ridiculous proposals was a program to pair orphans with factory jobs and the creation of a candy bar-sized omnivitamin made from the stockpiled supplements once sold on Infowars.
While the future of Infowars remains unclear, it’s safe to say that the site’s new ownership under The Onion will likely lead to a very different kind of content than what Jones ever envisioned. Whether it remains a parody of conspiracy culture or becomes an even more absurd satire of the very things it once promoted, the website will undoubtedly remain in the public eye.
The satirical takeover of Infowars by The Onion feels like a poetic justice for many, especially those who suffered from the harm caused by Jones’ dangerous lies. While Jones may claim that “they want to silence the American people,” it seems the real story here is that the truth—and a healthy dose of humor—may just be the thing that ultimately silenced him.
